NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas released a very harshly-worded statement in opposition to the Senate’s passage of the no-fault divorce bill yesterday, rebuking the “woman senators who danced in the aisle as they threw women and children under the bus.”

“Senators Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D), Liz Kruger (D), and Diane Savino (D) led the charge, twisting Democrats’ arms to pass a bill that will devastate our State’s women and children,” Pappas said.

“For under No-Fault, victims of domestic violence, even violence documented with hospital reports, police reports, and witness statements, will be told by a judge there was “no fault” in their divorce.”

“It was particularly disappointing to see Senator Jose Peralta (D) side with the No-Fault proponents” Pappas continued. “Peralta actually won the seat by campaigning as an advocate for victims of domestic violence.”

(Peralta, as you’ll recall, defeated expelled ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate in a special election this spring. Monserrate was ousted from the Senate by his colleagues after being convicted on a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Karla Giraldo).

Pappas contended the people who stand to gain the most from the bill passed by the Senate are divorce attorneys who “who line the wallets of elected officials” and will gain new clients if no-fault becomes law.

She called on the Assembly to “stop this madness” and block the Senate bill or, if that doesn’t happen, for Gov. David Paterson to veto it.

The no-fault issue has divided NOW-NYS and its NYC, whose executive director, Sonia Ossorio, supports the Senate bill.

Pappas has a history of being outspoken on a range of issues. She made national news in January 2008 when she released a statement accusing the late Sen. Ted Kennedy of “the utlimate betrayal” when he endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton during the presidential primary.

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