HispanicBusiness

In a bizarre political coup by Republicans in New York, the GOP regained control of the state's upper chamber this week, with the help of two defecting Democrats, one of whom, state Sen. Pedro Espada (D-Bronx), was named president of the Senate.

The move makes Espada the highest-ranking Hispanic elected official in New York state. It means Espada is in line to serve as governor should something happen to Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat.

The other defector was Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens).

The shakeup comes just months after Democrats put an end to the Republican Party's 44-year reign in the last election, gaining a 32-30 majority in the chamber.

As a practical matter, the maneuver calls into the question several policy issues, such as the legalization of gay marriage and changes in city rent laws, according to the New York Daily News.

Though they remain Democrats, Espada and Monteserrate joined Republicans in voting to re-install Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) as the new majority leader, thereby unseating Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), who had recently landed that position. Skelos had been the majority leader before Democrats took control of the chamber in the last election.

In the move, Espada was elected temporary president for the rest of this year. Skelos was also named the vice president.

Many speculate the ouster of Smith -- who briefly became the state's first African American Senate Majority leader -- stems from his support for a proposed bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

The new majority leader, Skelos, is an opponent of gay marriage, although Espada insists that he supports gay marriage.

Democrats have called the Republican coup illegal, and are planning to fight it. Gov. Paterson called the move an "outrage."