(AP) - A judge's refusal to settle the powerstruggle over New York's Senate is leaving the chamber more deeplygridlocked than when the standoff began June 8.

Democrats refuse to appeal, saying they want to negotiate apolitical solution with Republicans instead.

But Republicans, in a coalition with a dissident Democrat, saythe court action dismissed the Democrats' challenge and leaves themin charge. The coalition refuses to negotiate a power sharingagreement. They say Democrats can continue to boycott Senateaction, but they do it at their own political risk.

Both sides rejected Democratic Gov. David Paterson's offer tomediate a temporary rule by an objective third party so the Senatecan act on as many as 40 bills before the end of session June 22.