Last-minute changes to the contentious East Ramapo monitor bill have intensified the dispute to a new high, pitting Democrats against members of their own party.

Initially, the state education commissioner was going to hand-pick a monitor to oversee the racially divided, embattled school district.

State Sen. David Carlucci's change to the bill said that the state comptroller would take over the job of picking the monitor, and strip away his or her veto power over the board.

The changes to the bill drew fierce criticism of Carlucci from his Democratic colleagues in the Assembly.

On Wednesday, Carlucci drafted another plan which assigns the responsibility of picking a monitor to the governor. The monitor would lose their veto power, but could appeal to a state hearing officer should problems arise.

Carlucci's plan also shortens the length of the oversight from five to three years.

Republicans say they worry the plan could set a dangerous precedent.