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Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was a popular target this week, branded a deceiver by editorial writers, and singled out by former mayor Ed Koch for reneging on his promise to reform the state’s once-a-decade redistricting process.

"I’m very disappointed that he’s withdrawn his commitment. Most people don’t do that in politics," Koch told reporters Tuesday.

Last July, Skelos signed a pledge to support an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission. A bill submitted by Governor Andrew Cuomo would create just that, but Skelos now won’t support it.

He said this week he is still reviewing constitutional concerns with the bill.

At issue: Cuomo would appoint some members of a nominations committee that would select a pool of candidates for the commission. Constitutional law expert and former Cuomo advisor Jerry Goldfeder says he doesn’t see a problem since the legislature still has final say over whatever plan the commission comes up with.

"The governor’s involvement in the initial phases of this process doesn’t infringe upon the ultimate legislative authority. That’s what's called for in the constitution, and that continues to exist," Goldfeder said.

Skelos also says Cuomo’s bill favors Democrats by a six-to-two margin.

But in fact, Cuomo has agreed to give Skelos two of his picks, meaning Republicans would have four of eight picks on the nominations committee. Skelos alone would have three, more than any other official. And Republicans and Democrats would have an equal number of picks on the actual commission.

Skelos also says the strongest reform would be a constitutional amendment. He doesn’t mention that would take years, too late to affect this round of redistricting.

The way things work now, once every 10 years, the party that happens to be in power gets to redraw legislative districts, and can manipulate the lines to make sure that their party remains in power. That might explain why the Republicans are suddenly dragging their feet now that they’re back in the majority, while the same Democrats now pushing reform did nothing during the two years that they were in power.

Skelos says he still intends to pursue a reform measure to meet his pledge. As for what form that might take remains unclear.