ALBANY– A pro-life group booked space at the state Capitol a year in advance — only to have it yanked when Democrats took control of the state Senate from Republicans in January.
For more than a dozen years, New York State Right to Life has held its annual “Lobby Day” on May 1.
Christina Fadden, the organization’s chair, said she locked in the date and even publicized it on its website.
But in February, she was told all bets were off.
The legislative sponsor was a Republican — who lost reservation privileges when Democrats took over.
“We were informed we could change venue…or find a majority conference sponsor,” Fadden said.
Weeks of emails and phone calls followed, but she got nowhere.
Finally, Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Buffalo) agreed to put in his name as the sponsor — but the space was already taken.
Fadden argued that was by design.
“The eviction experienced by NYSRTL has not been forced upon any other group to our knowledge. Is NYSRTL being singled out for our views? We believe we are,” she said.
Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Senate Democrats, insisted they followed “the same procedures as the previous Senate Majority…”
Late Tuesday, the saga was headed to a happy ending: Schimminger said the original space became available because the group that reserved it after the right-to-lifers no longer needs it.