ALBANY — Welcome to New York’s version of Italy.
Coalition government could be the new normal in the state Senate.
Neither Republicans nor Democrats could have enough seats to control the 63-member house next year.
Enter the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of four renegade senators led by Jeff Klein of The Bronx that broke away from their party leadership last year and play well with the GOP.
Enter Sen.-elect Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn), who also could side with the GOP.
And, potentially, enter Gov. Cuomo.
The governor said yesterday he has “no intention” of getting involved in a Senate leadership fight, but insiders said he may step in to prevent the kind of chaos that plagued the last Democratic majority in 2009 and 2010.
Sources said a slim GOP majority would give him “control for the next two years.”
But Cuomo allies said a Democratic majority would give him a minimum wage increase, liberalization of pot laws, partial public financing of state political campaigns and other legislative wins – many of which the business community opposes.
Democrats will hold 33 seats if they survive recounts and absentee-ballot tallies in two close upstate races. But they don’t have control without the renegades.
Dems say their majority would have 14 new faces — including more moderate upstate members and minus indicted or convicted Pedro Espada Jr., Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate and Shirley Huntley.