US News

SENATE ‘AMIGOS’: D-DAY TOMORROW

ALBANY — After a provocative breakfast meeting yesterday, the state Senate’s “Four Amigos” declared tomorrow the deadline to end the feud that has paralyzed the chamber for a month.

The band of Senate renegades reunited — with three Democrats sharing eggs and bagels with party turncoat Pedro Espada, who is siding with Republicans — hours before walking out of a sham session that Democrats had hoped would pressure the GOP into power-sharing talks.

“Thursday — the deadline to end this thing,” Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx) told reporters after the breakfast meeting with fellow Amigos Hiram Monserrate of Queens and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn at the Albany Crowne Plaza.

“One way or another, this has to end. Too much circus, too much travesty, too much abuse of the people of the state of New York.”

The self-described Amigos have for months acted as a powerful voting bloc in the closely divided Senate, conspiring to win leadership posts for themselves and block key legislation.

But the group splintered during last month’s historic Senate coup, when two members — Espada, of The Bronx, and Monserrate — voted to give Republicans control of the chamber.

Monserrate days later returned to the Democratic fold, setting up the chamber’s current 31-31 deadlock. But the Amigos have met frequently with Espada in recent days as frustration has increased over the deadlock.

Gov. Paterson has kept the Senate in Albany every day since June 23.

Aides to Paterson confirmed last night that he had requested time on TV stations at 5 p.m. today to make a brief address regarding the stalemate.

The thrust of the remarks was unclear, but it was widely speculated that Paterson might make an announcement about the potential appointment of a lieutenant governor.

Some believe the legally questionable move could break the deadlock.

brendan.scott@nypost.com