If there's one thing that brings Albany Democrats and Albany Republicans together, it's their general dislike of state Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens). According to the Daily News, Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos believes there's a "real possibility" that Republicans will band together with some Democrats to bring to the Senate floor a resolution to expel Monserrate — who was convicted of misdemeanor assault for slashing his girlfriend with a broken glass.
"I think there are an awful lot of members who would vote for expulsion," said Skelos. This comes after a Senate committee tapped to review the Monserrate case found that he "behaved recklessly and callously after his companion was hurt during an argument at his Queens home, failing to call 911, dragging her violently through a hallway and taking her to a hospital miles away." The panel's 55-page assessment of Monserrate's actions doesn't include a recommendation on how to punish the politician — who was cleared of his felony charges and sentenced to probation — but insiders think the full Senate will either expel or censure him.
