ALBANY – Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith yesterday dodged more questions about an unprecedented power-sharing pact he reportedly cut with the “Gang of Three” party rebels last week.
In an awkward and combative news conference – his first public appearance since the Dem dissidents announced the deal last Thursday – he repeatedly refused to discuss details of the closed-door agreement or even confirm one had been reached.
At one point, he appeared to contradict assurances to Democratic senators unhappy with the deal that negotiations with the gang were still under way.
“Those three members are going to be part of the announcements that I’m having this week,” Smith said. “They know the positions that they’re getting.”
The dissidents – Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr. of The Bronx and Sens. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Ruben Diaz Sr. of The Bronx – say Smith promised to give each of them leadership posts in exchange for not allying with the Republicans.
Under the deal, Kruger would lead the Finance Committee. Espada would be named “majority leader” and given a newly created leadership position on the Rules Committee.
Diaz would lead the Aging Committee and secure a promise that Smith would not allow a proposal to legalize gay marriage to advance.
Smith yesterday did confirm that he would appoint rival Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx) to the new position of Senate vice president and make Buffalo Sen. William Stachowski deputy majority leader.