As liberal groups allied with mainline Democrats in the state Senate push Gov. Andrew Cuomo to render some sort of party unity in the chamber, the office of Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein in a statement says he hasn’t spoken to Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins “in nearly a month.”
That would likely line up with the Somos conference, held post-election in Puerto Rico, when Democrats gathered. Earlier in the day, Stewart-Cousins called on Cuomo to bring Democrats together in the Senate, with Democrats potentially having 32 members in the chamber.
“Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins has not spoken to Senator Klein in nearly a month, and so we have no idea what her grand plan is for Democratic unity,” said spokeswoman Candice Giove. “Leaders lead by engaging directly. The IDC will continue to do what’s in the best interest of New York’s working- and middle-class families.”
Klein has been allied in the past with Senate Republicans, but pressure from liberal groups has tightened in the last several hours after Democrats declared victory in the 8th Senate district with John Brooks. Republicans plan on challenging that outcome in court.
Updated: It’s a game of ping pong. Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy in a statement said the two legislative conference leaders have talked frequently and the blow up is an example of the need for Cuomo to broker a truce.
“Leader Stewart Cousins has reached out to Leader Klein numerous times over the last few months and these conversations have been productive,” he said. “This is a good example of why we need Governor Cuomo to fulfill his role as the leader of our party and unite Democrats for the good of New York State.”
