Jimmy Vielkind reports in Politico New York that as the legislature returns for a new session in Albany Jan. 4 this year Republicans have more women in the State Senate than Democrats. While the Democrats played around forming the Women’s Equality Party Republicans elected Elaine Phillips and Pam Helming. Democrats also faced the retirement of Democratic Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, and the decision of Sen. Marisol Alcantara to caucus with the chamber’s Independent Democratic Conference (and the Republicans). “The war on women is a bogus, contrived and ridiculous political stunt,” Sen. Cathy Young, an Olean Republican said. “Our conference has led the way on so many women’s issues that positively affect the lives of women and those that we love.” Read the full story in Politico New York.