(AP) - A three-week dispute over control of NewYork's Senate is getting more frantic behind the scenes, leading toa change in negotiators for the Democratic conference and newefforts to split the Republican-dominated coalition.

Despite optimistic sound bites, the two sides seemed no closerSunday to agreeing to a power-sharing arrangement than they werenearly three weeks ago.

The coalition insists it is in charge because of its June 8 voteto overthrow the Democrats; the Democratic conference, whichboycotted the vote, says it wasn't valid, and it's time to dealwith power-sharing under a chamber split 31-31.

"We're not up here to play games," said Sen. John Sampson, aBrooklyn Democrat chosen over a week ago to lead the Democraticconference. He said the conference still seeks a temporarypower-sharing arrangement - rather than one that would last untilthe end of the legislative term in December 2010 - and won'trecognize any validity to the June 8 coup.

However, Espada said talks are coming closer to a resolutionbecause of "the climate of civility, the climate of focus and theclimate of accepting what happened on June 8. ... I think theissues will be clarified today, and we'll be getting closure."

He referred to a closed-door negotiation on Sunday night. Atabout the time the evening talks were to begin, Democratic Gov.David Paterson went into a closed-door meeting of the Democraticconference.

Sunday marked the sixth extraordinary session Paterson orderedto get the sides to meet together and take up essential bills.Paterson ordered another session for Monday. He said he would keepsenators in Albany and try to dock their pay until the powerstruggle is resolved.