ALBANY–This is the scrum waiting for the Republicans to enter the Senate chamber for the first time since the coup. It’s kind of a big story here.
UPDATE: It’s 20 minutes after the Republicans said they would open the doors to the Senate chamber and start session, and despite the mob of reporters and lobbyists outside the chamber’s central doors, nothing is happening.
One rumor I’m hearing is that Hiram Monserrate is balking on his commitment to support the Republican-led coalition, thereby depriving them of the quorum needed to start session.
UPDATE: Now the Republicans are 45 minutes late for the opening of the chamber, and a full 90 minutes late for their own press conference.
Meanwhile, I’m told by Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran that the Democrats have yet to file their promised court action. Maybe they’re waiting to see if there’s any chance of getting the Senate back before they get a court to shut it down.
Shafran says that they “plan to” file by the end of the day.
UPDATE: Capitol Confidential reports that Monserrate has shown up at the Republican Senate offices.
Now the press pack has migrated to the office of Republican leader Dean Skelos on the third floor of the Capitol to wait for Monserrate and the Republicans to emerge from their meeting.
UPDATE: They came out and said there’s going to be no session today. Apparently they’re trying to round up more Democrats.
