NY senate logjam may end as GOP loses 2nd Democrat

NEW YORK, July 9 (Reuters) - New York state Senate Republicans on Thursday said a leadership battle might be over because the second of two Democrats who had crossed over to them has rejoined the Democratic conference.

The nearly five-week long brawl over who would lead the Senate has prevented it from enacting any bills.

"While the leadership issues may be resolved with Senator (Pedro) Espada's decision to return to the Democratic conference, we can never go back to the old days and the old rules that entrusted enormous power in any single leader," Republican Senator Dean Skelos, who says he is the majority leader, said in a statement.

Skelos has pushed the Democrats to give the GOP, the minority party, more staffers and other resources. (Reporting by Joan Gralla; Editing by Dan Grebler)