Close margins in legislative bodies can equal chaos. Just ask the New York State Senate. In the wake of Kevin McCarthy’s defenestration from the speakership last week, House Democrats have publicly tried to encourage a handful of Republicans to support Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for speaker ahead of today’s scheduled vote. In the unlikely event that happens, the move would replicate the political reality in the state Senate during a seven-year stretch that ended in 2018 in which a breakaway faction of Democrats formed a working majority with Republicans. To make it happen in the House, seven or eight Republicans would need to side with Democrats to make Jeffries speaker. But such bipartisan arrangements can have a shelf life. The Independent Democratic Conference, after all, isn’t around anymore after they almost all met their demise at the polls from angry Democrats over their alliance with Republicans. Former IDC lawmakers — all of whom are now out of elected office — don't think a similar coalition can be replicated in the House, or anywhere else for that matter, during an era of harder-edged partisanship. “That ship has sailed. They’re not afraid of pivotal elections in November,” former state Sen. Diane Savino said of current lawmakers. “They’re afraid of primaries.” The IDC disbanded under pressure from Democrats to win back full control of the state Senate in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election to the presidency and as then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was facing a Democratic primary of his own. All members of the Independent Democratic Conference, save for Savino, lost Democratic primaries later that year. Similar repercussions could be in store for Republicans who try to work with Democrats in the House, former IDC’er David Carlucci said. “It would be political suicide for any Republican that did that,” he told Playbook. “Ten years ago you might have been able to survive a primary with middle ground and compromise and doing what’s best for your district. But I believe the primary voter on the left and right today would just not allow that.” House Democrats are nevertheless making coalition building part of their talking points, with Jeffries’ office publicly encouraging Republicans to support him. After all, Jeffries knows all about the IDC: He was a state Assembly member during its first two years. In Washington, however, Republicans aren’t taking Jeffries up on it. Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents what’s expected to be a hotly contested House seat in the Hudson Valley, flatly ruled out the idea in an interview with Playbook. Instead, Republicans like him want a speaker who can bring to the table what McCarthy offered lawmakers in pivotal districts. “The next speaker is going to have to be able to achieve many of the goals that Kevin had in terms of a political operation, fundraising ability and doing press,” Lawler, a former assemblymember, told Playbook. “It’s a lot of work.” Power sharing also comes with trade-offs. In coalitions, rump caucus lawmakers typically demand committee leadership posts and the ability to bring favored legislation to the floor. Governing with a small majority, suffice to say, isn’t easy. Like in the House today, action in the state Senate of yesteryear could grind to a halt because of one or two disgruntled lawmakers. “When you have a narrow majority,” Savino added, “every member is an extortionist.” — Nick Reisman IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking at the Triangle Fire Memorial Dedication NYU Brown Building, making an announcement with Attorney General Tish James at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters and speaking at the Westchester Business Council’s Annual Dinner. WHERE’S ERIC? Calling into 77 WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning,” making a sanitation-related announcement, speaking at the FDNY Memorial Day Ceremony and hosting a reception for faith leaders. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Yes, we’re called upon to pray for peace. But justice first. There must be justice for the slaughter of babies and children and grandmothers and families torn apart by the horror.” — Gov. Kathy Hochul at a “New York Stands with Israel” rally in Manhattan.
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