State Senator Robert Ortt says he will support efforts to replace Majority GOP Leader Dean Skelos when lawmakers return to Albany. Skelos was arrested on federal corruption charges Monday. Ortt says it's not the easy thing to do, but it is the right thing.
"The reason we're there is to serve our constituents, to work hard for our constituents and to try to address pressing issues here in our districts or across the state," says Ortt.
"Just make New York State a better place to live, to keep people, keep families here. Obviously when you're talking about stuff like this, that doesn't help. It's certainly regrettable but hopefully in short order, we can move through this and try to get back to the people's business."
Whether Ortt will have the support of his GOP counterparts remains to be seen. Democrats walked out of yesterday's session in protest after Republicans refused to allow a vote to remove Skelos.
There is word, though, that Skelos is facing increasing pressure to step aside from some top Republican leaders.