ALBANY -- New York Senate Democrats have begun voting on a host of bills and declaring them passed after claiming that a Republican lawmaker walking through the chamber gave them the required quorum.

The gambit is the latest in a power struggle that has paralyzed the Senate for three weeks.

Sen. Frank Padavan, a Queens Republican, acknowledges he walked through the chamber because the Senate parlor had been blocked off. But he says the Democrats' claim to a quorum is a fraud.

A Republican-led coup on June 8 split the Senate 31-31. A judge ordered GOP senators into the special session ordered by Gov. David Paterson to deal with important legislation, including extensions of several measures set to expire at midnight Tuesday. Republicans have appealed that order.

Earlier we reported:

Still fighting over who's in control, New York senators adjourned only minutes after a Republican-led faction joined Democrats already in the chamber for a special session called by Gov. David Paterson.

A five-judge appellate division panel has scheduled a hearing Tuesday afternoon on the Republicans' efforts to block a judge's order that they have to attend sessions called by the governor. An appeals court judge refused to stay that order Tuesday morning, leading to the brief session.

Republican Sen. Thomas Libous, a leader of the group that mounted a June 8 coup against the Democratic conference, says court action could drag the dispute into the July 4 weekend.

Paterson has said he'll keep senators in Albany until they break the stalemate.