Republicans regain control of State Senate, call for Secretary of Senate to resign

UPDATED: 1:30 p.m. Who's in charge of the New York state Senate? Democrats say they still control the chamber, but Senate Republicans say they're now in charge.

In a stunning series of events Monday, Republicans -- with the help of two dissident Democrats from New York City -- took control of the Senate after the two renegades voted with the GOP to overthrow the fledgling Democratic majority. Democrats say they'll challenge the move in court.

The leader of a coalition that mounted Monday's coup in New York's Senate says he's being denied the keys to the historic chamber. The alliance of Republicans and two dissident Democrats is asking for the resignation of the secretary of the Senate, a position appointed by the Democratic conference that appears to have lost its majority. The secretary holds the chamber's keys.

Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx is the new head of the Senate if the overthrow stands, as many now expect. He says that he if can't get the keys to the Senate he will open the session Wednesday in another room, or even a park.

Espada and Hiram Monserrate of Queens  -- two of the original "Gang of Four" dissidents -- gave the GOP the 32 votes it required to achieve the bombshell change of leadership.

Within an hour of the overthrow, Republicans named Espada temporary president of the Senate and voted Dean Skelos vice president and majority leader, the Associated Press reports.

Those are the most powerful positions in the chamber. With them, the bipartisan coalition can direct legislation and reassign committee and leadership posts.

The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow.

In a press conference Monday night, Paterson said that he was expressing his concerns not only as the Governor but as a citizen of New York State and that he is furious about what happened today.

Paterson said he believes that Malcolm Smith is still Senate Majority Leader and the Democrats are still in control.

Hours after the stunning move, apparent former State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said the Republican power grab is a classic case of Albany politics.

Smith asserted that he still is, in fact, the majority leader and that Democrats remain in the majority.

Following the afternoon vote, Democrats tried to leave the chamber -- even briefly turning off the lights.

Rochester businessman Tom Golisano, who founded the political action committee that gave thousands of dollars to Senate Democrats last year in hopes they would take control, reportedly helped broker the deal to restore the GOP to power. He felt betrayed by Smith's failure to deliver a promised overhaul of Senate rules, the New York Times reports.

Skelos, who supplanted the retired Joe Bruno, served as majority leader for several months in 2008. Then, Democrats picked-up several longtime Republican seats in the November election, paving the way for Smith -- a Queens Democrat -- to serve as majority leader.

Smith was in New York City with Governor David Paterson on Monday when the surprise change occurred.

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CBS 6 News has team coverage of this story. Marci Natale, Jerry Gretzinger and Randy Simons are all down at the capitol.  Check back to cbs6albany.com for updates on this story and follow us on Twitter for up to the second developments.