Cara Matthews reports on Pressconnects.com - “With the expulsion of Bronx Democrat Hiram Monserrate this week, Senate Democrats find themselves with 31 members, one shy of the 32 needed to pass legislation.

It remains to be seen whether the loss of power will create any gridlock in a closely matched Senate that was paralyzed for weeks last year when Republicans staged a coup. There are 30 Republicans in the house.

Gov. David Paterson has called a March 16 special election to replace the freshman senator, who was ousted by his colleagues Tuesday in connection with a misdemeanor assault conviction. If a Democrat wins the election, that would give the majority party enough time to have the new member seated before a vote on the 2010-11 budget.”

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