Felony charges against girlfriend-slashing New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Democrat who briefly caucused with Republicans until the Democrats bought his loyalty back, will not be dropped.

Wonderful news: Hiram Monserrate is a Democrat again! The New York state Senator who famously glassed his girlfriend and whose term cannot end soon enough switched back to caucusing with his party and doomed the Senate to (yet more) gridlock.

Oh, hey, Democrats no longer control the New York State Senate. Who are our heroic new Republican senators? Transit-hating Pedro Espada Jr. and—wait for it—girlfriend-abusing (accused) criminal Hiram Monserrate!

Just in case you were looking for further evidence that Albany is a useless, dysfunctional mess, now you have it: Five months after Democrats took control of the State Senate, it appears Republicans are back in charge after two scandal-plagued Democrats—Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens (left)—suddenly decided to cross the aisle this afternoon. Monserrate, as you may recall, is under indictment for allegedly slashing his girlfriend's face with broken glass last December. If he's eventually convicted of assault, Monserrate will lose his seat, which will mean the chamber will be evenly split between Democrats and Republicans—and will be without a tie-breaking vote—until the 2010 elections. [NYT, NYDN, NYP]

State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who allegedly slashed his girlfriend with a glass when he found either drugs or another man's business card in her purse (then he tried to take her to a hospital outside city limits), would like his charges dismissed, please.

Sad day for Albany Democrats! State Senator Hiram Monserrate was indicted for slashing his girlfriend's face.

Cops are leaking details of their investigation into incoming State Senator Hiram Monserrate's little face-slashing incident.

Allies of Hiram Monserrate, who "tripped" while "'bringing' his girlfriend a 'glass' of 'water'", have the worst idea of sympathetic spin ever.

Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat and state senator-elect, will be taking his oath of office on January 1, even though he allegedly slashed his girlfriend's face with a broken glass.