Just as Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer failed to lift excessive second-floor "security" restrictions at the Capitol despite a promise to do otherwise, the GOP state Senate seems to have lost the support suddenly sprouted for citizens' liberties just a few months ago when Majority Leader Joseph Bruno saw his own being violated.
One subplot: During a debate on a labor bill last evening, the continual tension between Long Island's sole Democratic senator, Craig Johnson, and Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and company apparently came to the fore again.
Coincidentally, with Skelos accusing Democrats of taping proceedings for political purposes, a Times Union reporter was ordered by the ever-officious sergeant-at-arms staff to shut off her recorder despite policy allowing such photography. Her narrative is posted here. Hey -- Remember Bill O'Reilly going nuts on the Obama guy for blocking his cameraman's shot?
Dan Janison