Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $75,000 to the Independent Democratic Conference’s political action committee, according to its most recent campaign-finance report filed with the state Board of Elections.

Bloomberg, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent, is usually a deep-pocketed patron for the Senate GOP’s majority (especially for the four Republican lawmakers in the chamber who backed same-sex marriage last year).

But IDC spokesman Eric Soufer says conference leader Sen. Jeff Klein of the Bronx and Bloomberg have a long-standing relationship. The seed for this contribution was planted back in August when Klein and the mayor sat down, with Bloomberg saying he wanted to “do more” to help the IDC.

Klein is considered one of the more prodigious fundraisers in the state Legislature and has an extensive network of donors.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was not involved in the contribution, Soufer said.

“Like the IDC, the mayor appreciates a progressive, bi-partisan, and solution-oriented approach to governing. We’re to proud to have his support, which we think is a reflection of those shared values,” he said.

The IDC was formed at the start of 2011 with four lawmakers breaking away to from the Democratic minority the conference: Sens. Diane Savino, David Valesky, David Carlucci and Klein.

The conference formed a PAC later in the year, with $330,479 currently in the bank. At the time, the IDC indicated that the PAC was equal parts offensive and defensive for growing its ranks and batting away challenges to its current members.

The conference this year backed the unsuccessful primary campaign of Shawn Morse against Senate Deputy Minority Leader Neil Breslin.

There were rumors throughout the spring and summer that the IDC would back additional challenges, but that never materialized.

The PAC’s 10-day post primary filing also shows the previously reported $6,500 contribution to Sen. Adriano Espaillat, a Manhattan Democrat who unsuccessfully ran a primary against longtime Harlem Rep. Charlie Rangel in June. Espaillat won his primary this month against Assemblyman Guillermo Linares (the group also donated to Sen. Tim Kennedy as well, leading the Buffalo Democrat to insist he was stay put with the Democratic confernece and not join the IDC).

With the state Senate so closely divided, the IDC has become a vital swing bloc of votes for Republicans and Democrats. Should Election Day show no clear majority in the Senate, the IDC could play power broker later in the year.

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