ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A faction of breakaway Democrats in the New York state Senate has picked up another member.
Sen. Jose Peralta announced his intention to join the Independent Democratic Conference Wednesday. The Queens lawmaker says the group of eight lawmakers has shown they can get results on progressive priorities such as raising the minimum wage and extending paid family leave to workers.
Democrats technically have a one-seat majority in the 63-member Senate but Republicans run the chamber thanks to support from the Independent Democrats and its feud with traditional Democrats.
Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the mainline Democrats, say it’s “mind boggling” that as Democrats nationally work to resist Republicans in Washington a breakaway faction is “propping up” the GOP in Albany.
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