Albany Democrats differ on I.D.C. posture

Laura Nahmias

ALBANY—Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Democrats and labor unions have agreed to work together to help Democrats take back control of the Senate—but they differ on when they should start pressuring a renegade conference of five independent Democrats to rejoin the fold.

Cuomo targeted the Independent Democratic Conference's five members in a video speech at the Working Families Party convention last month, saying the five would face primary challenges if they didn't come back to the Democratic conference as part of a unified effort to help the Democrats retake power in the Senate.

That threat was part of Cuomo’s endorsement deal with the W.F.P.

He and some of the state’s most powerful labor unions agreed to pump $10 million into the effort to help the Democrats gain control of the Senate. But the groups don't seem to agree on when, exactly, they should begin the campaign to pressure the I.D.C. to come back.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/06/8546906/albany-democrats-differ-idc-posture?top-featured-2