Monserrate supported the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project , a project co-founded by Tom Cruise to deliver the so-called Purification Rundown ( an unproven " detoxification " procedure created by L. Ron Hubbard as part of Scientology ) to rescue workers affected by the September 11 attacks . Monserrate went through the program himself , and drafted official proclamations honoring both Cruise and Hubbard . He also attended a fund-raising dinner in New York for the project , as well as an event at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles . Monserrate dismissed medical authorities ' criticism of the Purification Rundown , saying , " This is the same type of thing they said about chiropractors twenty years ago . " In 2006 , Monserrate ran for New York State Senate against fellow Democrat John Sabini , a 16-year incumbent . Monserrate came within 200 votes of pulling off an upset in one of the closest races in Queens . In 2008 , he again ran for the State Senate with the support of organized labor . Sabini withdrew from the race following his appointment to chair the New York State Racing and Wagering Board . Monserrate then ran unopposed and on November 4 , 2008 , was elected the New York State Senator for the 13th district . On June 8 , 2009 , Monserrate and Pedro Espada ( D-Bronx ) joined Senate Republicans in an attempted parliamentary coup for the purpose of shifting control of the Senate to the Republicans ; Monserrate , Espada , and all 30 Senate Republicans voted , 32-30 , to replace Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith with then-Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and install Espada as Temporary President of the Senate . This action resulted in the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis . A week later , Senate Democrats appointed Senator John Sampson as their leader . On the same day , Monserrate rejoined the Democratic caucus , leaving the Senate in a 31-31 deadlock . With the office of Lieutenant Governor vacant due to Eliot Spitzer 's resignation , the tie could not be resolved , and the resulting legislative deadlock continued until July 9 , when Espada rejoined the Democrats
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Hiram Monserrate