Secretary of the New York Senate Angelo Aponte turned off the lights in the chamber and cut off the Senate's television feed in the midst of Republican senators' takeover of the chamber on Tuesday. After everyone had left for the day he locked the chamber, retreated to his office behind the Senate's locked iron doors and has refused to give up the key. Republicans and their Democratic partner, the newly elected president pro tem Pedro Espada, Jr., are calling for Aponte's resignation.
Locked out of the chambers, the new majority talks of holding a session today outside in a park. Democrats are discussing counter-strategies, and there are rumors of a change in their leadership. Blackberry addiction may have played a role in toppling the Democratic leader. See Capitol Confidential's "A.M. Roundup."
Photo credit: The Daily Politics
Typical fake "open" government from the NY Senate - they brag about their efforts to be open as long as they get kudos and smiles but the doors slam shut when the kitchen gets hot. Not very impressive.
Posted by: And this is "open government?" | June 14, 2009 at 10:45 AM