Indie Dems propose 3-leader NY Senate

The leader of the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference is pursuing an unprecedented shakeup in New York politics that would see three leaders with equal power ruling the state Senate in a bipartisan coalition. WAMC’s Dave Lucas reports.

Sen. Jeffrey Klein says he wants a formal three-way power-sharing arrangement that would be extended to every decision in the chamber, including state budget negotiations.

That would also change the traditional "three-men-in-a-room" budget talks involving the governor, the Senate majority leader and the Assembly speaker to include the leader of the Independent Democratic Conference.

Klein tells The Associated Press on Wednesday that Americans are calling for that kind of bipartisanship.

His group's four members could have the power to make the change in the chamber, which is near evenly split by party.

© 2012 AP