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Sen. Klein Refuses To Disband Independent Democratic Caucus

The battle between the Independent Democratic Caucus and the mainline Democrats in Albany remains.

Sen. Jeffrey Klein

Sen. Jeffrey Klein

Photo Credit: Contributed

Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx), who heads the 8-member IDC, called for the resignation of Yonkers Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, leader of the Democrats and said his group was not going away.

Klein, who represents the 34th district which covers a portion of Southern Westchester, told Buffalo News the Democrats have no intention of marshaling the votes to get things done. He said he asked Democrats to pledge support on a number of progressive ideas, but got no response. 

The IDC allows the GOP to maintain control of the Senate despite there being 32 Democrats to 31 Republicans in the chamber. One Democratic senator, Simcha Felder, caucuses with the Republicans.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said it would be optimal if the Democrats united, but has never pushed hard for it, according to Buffalo News.

Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Senate Democrats said Klein is simply lashing out because he is under pressure from Democrats to reunite the caucus, according to Buffalo News.

To read the Buffalo News story, click here.

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