Tables turned in NY Senate: Democrats take charge

ALBANY == New York Democrats in control of the Senate for the first time in 43 years turned the tables on Republicans in combative floor debates Monday with Republicans adopting Democrats' previous arguments for equal staffing and resources.

In the end, Democrats denied Republicans the equal treatment that Democrats had long called for.

"Because I'm a a pastor, I say, let's share, let's be equal," said Democratic Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx, now with a powerful and lucrative committee chairmanship in the majority. Then he said with a laugh: "If I were not a pastor, I would say — suffer a little bit."