Such progressive legislation has been passed by the Assembly, in some cases multiple times. While members of the IDC often back these bills, even sponsoring or co-sponsoring them, their support, in the end, doesn't matter. These bills never make it to the Senate floor for a vote. Why? They get stuck in committee. What does this have to do with the IDC? The IDC's existence allows the Senate Republicans' majority control, which in turn allows Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan to appoint committee chairs. (Democrat Simcha Felder, who is not a member of the IDC, caucuses with the Republicans.) Progressive legislation never makes it to floor because the Republican-led committees allow this type of legislation to languish.