Klein: Time right to reunite

ALBANY — Sen. Jeff Klein said Thursday that the Independent Democratic Conference “worked very well in its time,” but its time to end had come.

The Bronx Democrat, in an interview with the Daily News, insisted the decision to fold the IDC was a “sacrifice” the group made to strengthen the mainline Democratic Conference heading into this year’s elections and fend off the policies of President Trump and congressional Republicans.

“Clearly the election of Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress changed the dynamic,” he said. “We now spend most of our time battling federal policies and their impact on New Yorkers.”

Klein stressed the nowformer IDC members will remain part of the Democratic Conference regardless of whether the Dems capture the majority in November.

“I am now the deputy minority leader under Sen. (Andrea) Stewart-Cousins,” he said. A day after it was announced the IDC would reunite with the mainline Democrats, Klein said he had no regrets about his decision to form the group in 2011.

“The Senate was dysfunctional, couldn’t get anything done,” he said. “We, I think, proved that government could work in a bipartisan fashion.”

The IDC’s efforts helped enact progressive measures at a time when the GOP-controlled the Senate, including the marriage equality law, a $15 minimum wage and paid family leave, he said.

Progressive groups blasted the group, saying it empowered Republicans and blocked the adoption of other progressive legislation such as the Dream Act and bail reform.