Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. , D-Bronx, left, and Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, wait for a Senate leadership negotiation meeting to begin in the Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y. , Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Democrats did not attend the meeting. Espada is a dissident Democrat who joined a Republican coalition. AP Photo logo AP Photo 4 months ago

Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr. , D-Bronx, left, and Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, wait for a Senate leadership negotiation meeting to begin in the Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y. , Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Democrats did not attend the meeting. Espada is a dissident Democrat who joined a Republican coalition.