Senate Democrats Lock Down as Secret Committee Comes to Light
A secret group of Senate Democrats helped decide the fate of nearly 650 bills over the last month. Just don’t ask any questions.
Chris Bragg and Sam Mellins · June 6, 2024
![New York State Capitol in front of question marks](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Y9BpP6h2J__Ocb5sd0eZ9kW2HmM7cvUJjH0Joc4F2tw/w:820/h:615/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9zZWNyZXQtc2VuYXRlLXdvcmtpbmctcnVsZXMtZ3JvdXAuanBn.jpg)
The Senate Working Rules group has no official existence, but it helps decide the fate of hundreds of bills each year. | Image: Matt Wade | Illustration: Akash Mehta
“It would be less efficient if they were constantly bombarded by everyone, including other members.”
—Senator Julia Salazar
![Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Liz Krueger, and Michael Gianaris in the state Senate](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Ks7fXWkhynVd3HjXTcLjvctFTEsu1vI97P42Nv3-Njs/w:820/h:567/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy8xOTE3MDg0NDU5Njk1OC5qcGc.jpg)
The three highest ranking Senate Democrats — Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Liz Krueger, and Michael Gianaris — huddle before a vote.
| Associated Press
“What Working Rules?”
—Senator Michael Gianaris
![The chamber of the New York Senate](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/tBW8CATavcsCn0Q6BwZuzUFb0BcKqhS1StXT7yuTA2o/w:820/h:410/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9TZW5hdGVfQ2hhbWJlci5qcGVn.jpeg)
The New York State Senate Chamber.
| New York State Office of General Services
Akash Mehta contributed reporting.
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/-UKCkzG-AoHYswtqkYDJPlrxSIxgcW-vNq6e6HntUkE/w:135/h:190/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9IZWFkLXNob3QuanBn.jpg)
Chris Bragg is the Albany bureau chief at New York Focus. He has done investigative reporting on New York government and politics since 2009, most recently at The Buffalo News and Albany Times Union.
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/zvcEteTotj-1JiAB7flWvmlOWibwhpIhYQlb1qzvY4M/w:135/h:190/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9TYW0tTWVsbGluc18yMDIzLTA0LTIxLTA1NDc0OV9rdmFmLmpwZw.jpg)
Sam Mellins is senior reporter at New York Focus, which he has been a part of since launch day. His reporting has also appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Intercept, THE CITY, and The Nation.
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