Left, Right, Left: Espada Back to the Democrats

New York State Senator Pedro Espada—who helped engineer a coup to flip control of the Senate from Democratic to Republican hands—is apparently ready to switch back to the Democrats now that he has a "handshake deal" to be Majority Leader.

The double-double-cross comes after New York Governor David Paterson's bold move to appoint Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, a power that Senate Republicans (and a judge) don't believe Paterson has in the first place.

The fate of a host of issues hangs in the balance, including a bill to bring marriage equality to New York.

P.S. It may (or may not) help the marriage-equality cause, but...who would trust a handshake deal with this shady character?

UPDATE: A deal has been reached in the New York Senate. Should be a wild ride.

New NY State Senate President Espada Wants Marriage Equality Vote

The new New York State Senate President Pedro Espada, Jr., who took power in the coup that occurred yesterday afternoon, said today that he would like to see marriage equality brought to a vote in the state. Senator Majority Leader Dean Skelos "said he and Mr. Espada would discuss the issue of same-sex marriage and other matters later on Tuesday" according to City Room.

Said Espada Jr.: “I am for same-sex marriage. There will be no guarantees and no quid pro quos, I think there will be a vote of conscience of the senators. And with my partner in government, Senator Skelos, we have not discussed bringing it out to the floor. I’m expressing my own personal desire to see a full debate and decision on this matter.”

Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan van Capelle issued a statement earlier today calling for a vote on marriage and other items related to LGBT rights: "Our issues are not partisan issues. They are about equal rights for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are treated like second class citizens. Our hope and expectation is that yesterday’s events will not derail efforts by our community to win the equality we so desperately need. It is time to bring marriage equality and these other LGBT issues to the Senate floor for votes and have members vote their conscience. We urge the Senate to schedule these votes as soon as possible before the end of the legislative session.”