Felder, a Democrat, Says He Will Remain With Republicans

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

ALBANY — State Senator Simcha Felder, a Democrat from Brooklyn, announced on Tuesday that he would continue to caucus with the Republicans, short-circuiting hopes of a new Democratic majority in Albany’s upper chamber.

Mr. Felder, who has repeatedly said he actually has no loyalty to any party, said in a statement that he would continue to sit with the Republican majority regardless of the outcome of two special elections being held in the Bronx and Westchester County.

If Democrats win both seats, the party would gain a numerical edge in the Senate, theoretically giving them control — but only if Mr. Felder returns to the fold. Instead, Mr. Felder said that he believed the issue would be “best resolved outside of the legislative session,” which ends in June.

“I believe it is my obligation to prevent an unprecedented and uncertain late-session political battle that will only hurt my constituents and New Yorkers,” Mr. Felder said. “Political gamesmanship must not be allowed to jeopardize the leadership, committee structure and staff of the New York State Senate and push this institution into turmoil.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/nyregion/simcha-felder-republicans-senate.html

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Know what will really hurt his constituents? Losing all his clout when the Democrats win the Senate outright in November.

[bearsfootball516]

1. Im sure hell enjoy getting wrecked in his next primary.

[brooklynite]

5. Blake Morris is running against him, BUT.....

...this is not a progressive district that cares about Democratic vs Republican control. It is heavily orthodox Jewish, and they tend to vote reliably for incumbents, especially those who bring home goodies. His big fight in this years budget battle was a waiver for State oversight of Yeshiva schools.

[NBachers]

2. Is he up for election in November?

[DinahMoeHum]

7. YES, like every state senator and state assembly person in NY.

ALL those seats are up for grabs.

Special elections in April or no special elections in April.

[bluestarone]

3. If possible

VOTE THE ASSHOLE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AZ Jim]

4. What a flake..

You don't see repubs breaking ranks like that. No self respecting Democrat would become a repub tool like that. He is a punk.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. He doesn't stand for anything

no principles, no resolve, just a wishy-washy left-of-center-right-wing-fraternizer

Why is he in politics? What do they have on him? This is strange behavior for a politician

You're from New York and you have no opinion? WHO is going to believe that?

What the hell's the matter with you?

[elleng]

11. Yes he does, like it or not.

Suddenly, Simcha Felder Is The Most Powerful Man In New York

*Felder, who represents a district in the heart of Orthodox Brooklyn, is a much-maligned figure among New York Democrats. The new political reality in Albany won’t make him any more popular, and could bring a wave of unwanted attention to him — and the Orthodox Jewish community.'
Read more: https://forward.com/news/398157/suddenly-simcha-felder-is-the-most-powerful-man-in-new-york/

Why Is New York Condoning Illiteracy?
'Last Friday, as observant Jews hurried with last-minute preparations for Passover, one Orthodox Jew was in Albany, holding up the New York State budget. He was insisting that this roughly $168 billion package include a special provision that would allow religious schools to meet the state’s educational requirements by using their long hours of religious instruction.

In recent years, education activists, among them former Hasidic yeshiva graduates, have pushed aggressively to bring the yeshivas into compliance with the state’s education laws. Simcha Felder, the state senator from Brooklyn who represents the heavily ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Borough Park and Midwood, was on a mission to get legal permission for the state to turn a blind eye to the near-absence of secular instruction in many yeshivas. The upshot? Tens of thousands of children would continue to graduate without the most basic skills.

I know about the cost. I was one of those kids.

I was raised in New York’s Hasidic community and educated in its schools. At my yeshiva elementary school, I received robust instruction in Talmudic discourse and Jewish religious law, but not a word about history, geography, science, literature, art or most other subjects required by New York State law. I received rudimentary instruction in English and arithmetic — an afterthought after a long day of religious studies — but by high school, secular studies were dispensed with altogether.

The language of instruction was, for the most part, Yiddish. English, our teachers would remind us, was profane. . . '

https://www.democraticunderground.com/12234201

[PaulX2]

8. He's Doing His Dodo Bird Impression

America is finally figuring out just how much Republicans care about their non-billionaire asses.

None.

I hope you are begging for pennies with a cardboard sign on a corner someday Simcha.

[beachbum bob]

9. His constituents who voted for him deserve the lost of clout, they need to vote

For a real democrat next time

[Vinca]

10. Does the party have a way to eject him? If he doesn't want to caucus with his own party, oust him.

[melman]

12. Where's the unconditional support crowd?

No comment? Seems odd.

[rpannier]

13. That was my thought

Anyone? Antone? Buehler?