Skelos gives 3 Dems Senate chairmanships

ALBANY - Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos gave prized committee chairmanships Tuesday to three breakaway Democrats in a move that could solidify his hold on the narrowly divided chamber.

Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) will appoint three of the four members of the self-titled Independent Democratic Caucus to the leadership roles, aides said. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin 32-30 majority in the Senate, sparking speculation on how effectively Skelos can marshal votes, especially on issues dividing upstate and downstate.

The move not only helps address the Republican's promise to be more bipartisan, but also potentially gives him bargaining room on controversial matters.

Skelos officially became majority leader Jan. 4; the Republicans won the majority in November after being out of power for two years.

Skelos named Sen. Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) as head of the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) as head of the Committee on Children and Family Services, and David Valesky (D-Oneida) as head of the Committee on Aging.

The fourth independent Democrat, David Carlucci, was named to the Administrative Regulations and Review Commission.

The four Democrats formed the splinter group earlier this year, saying they were dissatisfied with Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn), who in 2009-10 held the post Skelos now holds and who was at the helm when the party lost the Senate last fall."Senator Skelos said before he'd consider giving committee chairs to Democrats in an effort to make the Senate more bipartisan," said Skelos spokesman Mark Hansen. "These individuals indicated that they wanted to put government ahead of politics."

Technically, the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee doesn't exist at the moment, but Senate Republicans are expected to create it soon.

Sampson spokesman Austin Shafran said the committee perks were meant to "purchase the loyalty of their newest member," a slap at Klein, the independent caucus leader.