While we have been discussing the travails of Eliot Spitzer and his resignation another quiet controversy is brewing. This controversy does not involve sex, prostitutes, or bank transfers, but a never tested legal question regarding the position of a lawmaker who is President of the Senate, but then gets elevate to Acting Lt. Gov. because the Lt. Gov. Has been sworn in as governor.

Today's edition of The New York Times asks a straight forward question, "Will Joseph L. Bruno be able to vote twice?" Mr. Bruno is the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate and now has been elevated to Acting Lt. Gov. because of the Spitzer scandal.

The difficulty is that this question has never been litigated or asked so there is no guide as to the answer. The two party's disagree on the interpretation of the state constitution. The GOP claiming that Mr. Bruno would have two votes and that the Lt. Gov. only votes to break ties in procedural matters. The Democrats counter that he has only one vote and that the Lt. Gov. also breaks ties on legislation. This is a particular concern if there is 31 Senators from each side, not counting Mr. Bruno, assuming he is the acting Lt. Gov.

However, I believe the Democrats are right that Mr. Bruno gets only one vote on any matter and the Lt. Gov can be called upon to break ties on legislation. Though, they do not mention it, I wonder about nominations. If you read between the lines of the Republican answer it says that they will use procedural motions to make sure that nothing the Democrats led by Mr. Paterson and the legislative leadership what to accomplish because what they can't do legislatively they do by requiring procedural that they know they will win because Mr. Bruno gets two votes and undoubtedly he will vote the same way both times. This is underhanded and shows how corrupt, willing to cheat and willing to overstretch legal interpretation my party is in order to get their way. I am completely ashamed of these "leaders" leaders in my party that refuse to play by generally accepted rules. In this country weather we are voting for our officials and laws or our officials are voting to pass legislation every man only gets one vote!