Sources: Leadership Deal Has Smith and Skelos Splitting Top Jobs

ALBANY—Negotiations to resolve the State Senate leadership struggle include a deal that would make Malcolm Smith the chamber's president pro tempore and Dean Skelos the majority leader, sources familiar with the discussions said. Irene Liu at Capitol Confidential reported this earlier, and has more on the second level of leadership. I've heard that things are still fluid regarding the role of the much-maligned Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who currently claims the title of president pro tempore, much to the chagrin of Democrats and some Republicans. He would not, however, take the title that makes him second in line to the governorship, the sources said.