ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A coalition of Republicans and two dissident Democrats have taken New York's Senate chamber, but say the Democratic conference they overthrew Monday has locked away bills and other documents needed to conduct business.
In yet another shock, one of the dissidents - Democratic Sen. Hiram Monserrate - says he won't vote for any bill the coalition tries to bring up. He says he will try instead to bring a compromise that includes members of the Democratic conference who are boycotting the session.
That leaves the coalition with a 31-seat bloc in the 62-seat Senate.
Minutes before, state Justice George Ceresia refused the Democrats' request to stop the coalition from opening the Senate and running its first session since the chamber was locked down following Monday's power struggle.