It looks like some folks are hearing about the IDC for the first time tonight. Gather round, because if you don't already know about this gang of scumbag turncoat "Democrats" who enabled Republican rule in New York for years, you'll want learn 1/
"IDC" stood for "Independent Democratic Conference." Four members of the New York state Senate who'd been elected as Democrats, led by Jeff Klein, broke away from the party in 2011 and sided with the GOP majority in the chamber (Republicans had won back control in 2010) 2/
In exchange for turning traitor, these Benedicts Arnold were given plum committee chairs by Republicans, which came with major perks, particularly big extra pay bumps 3/ nytimes.com/2017/05/09/nyr…
In 2012, though, Democrats once again won a majority of seats in the Senate—33 to just 30 for the GOP
But here's the sick thing: Klein and the IDC *STUCK WITH THE GOP* and allowed Republicans to remain in power *EVEN THOUGH THEY HELD A MINORITY OF SEATS* 4/
But here's the sick thing: Klein and the IDC *STUCK WITH THE GOP* and allowed Republicans to remain in power *EVEN THOUGH THEY HELD A MINORITY OF SEATS* 4/
New York is a very blue state. It elected Democratic majorities in both chambers of the legislature in 2012. But because the IDC cared only about its own power (and pay), it let Republicans stay in charge—and block pretty much every progressive priority for years 5/
Here are some of the measures NY couldn't pass because the IDC kept Republicans in charge:
• Early voting
• Automatic voter registration
• A state-level DREAM Act
• Meaningful campaign finance reform
• The Women's Equality Act
• Paid family leave
And so much more 6/
• Early voting
• Automatic voter registration
• A state-level DREAM Act
• Meaningful campaign finance reform
• The Women's Equality Act
• Paid family leave
And so much more 6/
This sick state of affairs persisted for years, with IDC members and their enablers somehow insisting over and over again that they were the true progressives 7/
They'd try to gaslight actual progressives by citing occasional minor accomplishments and pretending like the GOP's refusal to pass real progressive legislation simply wasn't a thing that was happening. They still deny to this day what they did 8/
But finally, last year, it all came crashing to an end. Progressives were fed up with the IDC enabling the GOP and primaried all of its members (it had grown to eight). Six members of that junta went down in flames, including Jeff Klein, the leader 9/ 
And with a true Democratic majority in place, Dems were finally able to pass so many of the bills that had been stymied for so long, like early voting 10/
So yeah, the IDC were bad guys—real, real bad guys, who did real harm to New York for the better part of a decade. Remember them well—and those who helped them 11/end
