ALBANY - Tougher punishment for driving drunk with a child passenger remains a dream of a brokenhearted father after political disagreement in Albany stalled “Leandra's Law.”

Lenny Rosado's sobbing testimony calling for a law named for his dead 11-year old daughter couldn't draw together opposing sides in the Senate, the Assembly, and the governor's office Tuesday.

Leandra was killed when a station wagon full of children driven by a mother since accused of drunken driving crashed in Manhattan on Oct. 11. The children, including the driver's daughter, were headed to a sleepover.

“I'm pleading for the state, the Senate, and all parties,” Rosado said. “I lost my daughter ... I feel it every day. At least, her death won't be in vain. We'll be able to save others' lives.”

At issue is whether the charge should always be a felony, punishable by four years or more in prison, or whether lesser offenses with lower blood-alcohol levels should be a misdemeanor, punishable by no more than a year in jail.

Spokesmen for the Assembly and Senate said legislators want to pass a bill and negotiations continue. Those talks are behind closed doors and each side disputes what is holding up an agreement.

In a rare show of bipartisanship in the Senate this year, Democrats are supporting a Republican bill.

While Republican Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. of Long Island was introducing Rosado to reporters at a news conference, they were joined by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Martin Malave Dilan, a Brooklyn Democrat.

That was when agreement on a bill seemed close. Hours later, Gov. David Paterson, who proposed the original version of the bill, said disagreement over the measure means it will be the only item considered in this week's special session that won't be on the agenda for sessions he has called for next week.

But Paterson spokesman Peter Kauffmann said later Wednesday that with the continuing negotiations, the governor hopes an agreement could be considered in the sessions on Monday or Tuesday.

“I'm very frustrated because we thought we had a deal,” Dilan said.

“New York has to send a clear message,” Fuschillo said. “These children become defenseless hostages because they are too young to take away the keys or call a cab.”