One day after he was installed as Senate Majority Leader in a coup that Democrats attempted to end by turning off the lights in the Senate room, Sen. Dean Skelos is telling the press that he will bring marriage equality to a vote before the current session ends in less than ten days. New Senate President Pedro Espada agrees and the two are expecting to discuss timing later today.
The Empire State Pride Agenda is trying to stay above the partisan warfare.
“Our issues are not partisan issues,” Alan Van Capelle, the organization’s executive director, said on Tuesday. “They are about equal rights for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are treated like second-class citizens. Our hope and expectation is that yesterday’s events will not derail efforts by our community to win the equality we so desperately need.”
Since yesterday's bloodbath, we've not yet heard from openly gay Sen. Thomas Duane, who has famously claimed that the necessary votes to approve same-sex marriage do exist.
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/06/skelos-ny-senate-will-vote-on-marriage.html
June 09, 2009
New Senate President Wants Vote on Same-Sex Marriage
ALBANY — Pedro Espada Jr., the new State Senate president, said in a radio interview on Tuesday morning that he personally wanted to bring same-sex marriage to a vote, news that will give some encouragement to gay activists who read defeat into Monday’s Republican Senate coup.
Mr. Espada also said he intended to fire the Senate’s highest-ranking Democratic staff member, Angelo Aponte, who as secretary of the Senate was the top aide to Malcolm A. Smith, the former majority leader. And Mr. Espada, a Bronx Democrat, would not commit to supporting Gov. David A. Paterson’s electoral bid next year.
His comments, on Talk 1300 AM, reflected the abrupt political upheaval that took place on Monday, when Mr. Espada and Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, formed a governing coalition with the Senate Republicans after pulling off a coup on the Senate floor. Mr. Espada, who has had a history of legal troubles, would become governor if Mr. Paterson were incapacitated.
“I am for same-sex marriage,” Mr. Espada said. “There will be no guarantees and no quid pro quos, I think there will be a vote of conscience of the senators. And with my partner in government, Senator Skelos, we have not discussed bringing it out to the floor. I’m expressing my own personal desire to see a full debate and decision on this matter.”
The Senate majority leader, Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican who is sharing power with Mr. Espada under the new leadership arrangement, said he and Mr. Espada would discuss the issue of same-sex marriage and other matters later on Tuesday.
The Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay rights organization, called for a Senate vote on the same-sex marriage bill — which the Assembly has already passed — before the end of the legislative session, notwithstanding the change in party control.
“Our issues are not partisan issues,” Alan Van Capelle, the organization’s executive director, said on Tuesday. “They are about equal rights for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are treated like second-class citizens. Our hope and expectation is that yesterday’s events will not derail efforts by our community to win the equality we so desperately need.”
The new coalition intends to resume the Senate session on Wednesday, even if its members are locked out of the chamber. Democrats have vowed to fight the Republicans’ move to claim the Senate, even though they no longer have a majority.
“There’s no requirement that the session has to be in the chamber,” Mr. Skelos said. “Pedro and I will hold session somewhere else if they lock the chamber.”
By Danny Hakim
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/new-senate-president-wants-vote-on-same-sex-marriage/
Mr. Espada also said he intended to fire the Senate’s highest-ranking Democratic staff member, Angelo Aponte, who as secretary of the Senate was the top aide to Malcolm A. Smith, the former majority leader. And Mr. Espada, a Bronx Democrat, would not commit to supporting Gov. David A. Paterson’s electoral bid next year.
His comments, on Talk 1300 AM, reflected the abrupt political upheaval that took place on Monday, when Mr. Espada and Hiram Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, formed a governing coalition with the Senate Republicans after pulling off a coup on the Senate floor. Mr. Espada, who has had a history of legal troubles, would become governor if Mr. Paterson were incapacitated.
“I am for same-sex marriage,” Mr. Espada said. “There will be no guarantees and no quid pro quos, I think there will be a vote of conscience of the senators. And with my partner in government, Senator Skelos, we have not discussed bringing it out to the floor. I’m expressing my own personal desire to see a full debate and decision on this matter.”
The Senate majority leader, Dean G. Skelos, a Long Island Republican who is sharing power with Mr. Espada under the new leadership arrangement, said he and Mr. Espada would discuss the issue of same-sex marriage and other matters later on Tuesday.
The Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay rights organization, called for a Senate vote on the same-sex marriage bill — which the Assembly has already passed — before the end of the legislative session, notwithstanding the change in party control.
“Our issues are not partisan issues,” Alan Van Capelle, the organization’s executive director, said on Tuesday. “They are about equal rights for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are treated like second-class citizens. Our hope and expectation is that yesterday’s events will not derail efforts by our community to win the equality we so desperately need.”
The new coalition intends to resume the Senate session on Wednesday, even if its members are locked out of the chamber. Democrats have vowed to fight the Republicans’ move to claim the Senate, even though they no longer have a majority.
“There’s no requirement that the session has to be in the chamber,” Mr. Skelos said. “Pedro and I will hold session somewhere else if they lock the chamber.”
By Danny Hakim
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/new-senate-president-wants-vote-on-same-sex-marriage/
June 04, 2009
Vote on Gay Marriage
Six states have now made it legal for same-sex couples to marry. New York is not one of them. Gov. David Paterson wants the state to guarantee that right, and the protections that come with it, and the Assembly approved legislation legalizing same-sex marriage last month. Malcolm Smith, the leader of the State Senate, insists that he, too, favors marriage for gay couples, but he won’t let a bill go to the floor unless he’s privately lined up enough votes.
It is time for Mr. Smith and his fellow senators to decide this important matter in public.
There are few new arguments to be made behind closed doors. By now, the Senate’s 62 members have heard from every interest group. They know the polls and the politics. They know that New York is lagging behind others — including New Hampshire, where Gov. John Lynch, who had previously defined marriage as strictly between a man and a woman, signed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on Wednesday.
And if New York’s Assembly is any guide, once the matter comes to the floor, these senators will also recognize that same-sex marriage is a basic civil right that can no longer be denied to the citizens of this state.
Thomas Duane, the lead senator on this bill, argues that ultimately his colleagues will see the issue clearly, both in theory and in their personal experiences. He says that most lawmakers, like most Americans, either have a gay family member or know a gay couple down the street or a gay co-worker in their office or some of the many gay lawyers, doctors, politicians and journalists in their community.
“How can they look these people in the eye and not want to treat them equally?” Mr. Duane said. “How can they look me in the eye?”
Christine Quinn, the speaker of the New York City Council, who also has been in Albany working in favor of the same-sex marriage bill, offers another reason why a public vote is necessary. “History will record what all of us do on this issue,” she said. “This is one of those moments when you should want to be counted.”
New York’s Legislature has about two more weeks left in this year’s session. Its work will not be done until the Senate publicly debates and then votes to legalize same-sex marriage.
Editorial
Vote on Gay Marriage
Published: June 3, 2009
A version of this article appeared in print on June 4, 2009, on page A26 of the New York edition
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/opinion/04thu4.html
It is time for Mr. Smith and his fellow senators to decide this important matter in public.
There are few new arguments to be made behind closed doors. By now, the Senate’s 62 members have heard from every interest group. They know the polls and the politics. They know that New York is lagging behind others — including New Hampshire, where Gov. John Lynch, who had previously defined marriage as strictly between a man and a woman, signed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on Wednesday.
And if New York’s Assembly is any guide, once the matter comes to the floor, these senators will also recognize that same-sex marriage is a basic civil right that can no longer be denied to the citizens of this state.
Thomas Duane, the lead senator on this bill, argues that ultimately his colleagues will see the issue clearly, both in theory and in their personal experiences. He says that most lawmakers, like most Americans, either have a gay family member or know a gay couple down the street or a gay co-worker in their office or some of the many gay lawyers, doctors, politicians and journalists in their community.
“How can they look these people in the eye and not want to treat them equally?” Mr. Duane said. “How can they look me in the eye?”
Christine Quinn, the speaker of the New York City Council, who also has been in Albany working in favor of the same-sex marriage bill, offers another reason why a public vote is necessary. “History will record what all of us do on this issue,” she said. “This is one of those moments when you should want to be counted.”
New York’s Legislature has about two more weeks left in this year’s session. Its work will not be done until the Senate publicly debates and then votes to legalize same-sex marriage.
Editorial
Vote on Gay Marriage
Published: June 3, 2009
A version of this article appeared in print on June 4, 2009, on page A26 of the New York edition
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/opinion/04thu4.html
June 02, 2009
Gay marriage will pass state Senate, says Manhattan Sen. Thomas Duane
ALBANY - The state Senate's biggest advocate for gay marriage boasted Monday he has the votes to make it legal in New York.
Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) said he's received assurances of support from more than the 32 senators needed to approve the bill.
"I have the votes," said Duane, who predicted the Senate would vote on the matter before the end of its session this month.
Duane declined to say which senators had agreed to support the bill, but said the list included some Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) and gay-marriage advocates stopped short of backing Duane's claim, saying only that the measure is gaining momentum.
"There's still work to be done," said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda.
The Assembly easily approved a same-sex marriage bill last month, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
No Republican senators have publicly expressed support for the measure.
Several Democratic senators, including Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx and George Onorato of Queens, have said they plan to vote against it.
Diaz, a fierce opponent of gay marriage, accused Duane of skewing the vote tally to force the matter on to the floor.
"It's unprofessional to be playing with people's minds," Diaz said.
Smith supports gay marriage but has said he will not bring the matter to the floor until it has enough votes to pass.
Paterson has urged Senate leadership to put the bill to a floor vote, regardless of the vote count.
gblain@nydailynews.com
BY Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU
Monday, June 1st 2009, 9:06 PM
Read more: "Gay marriage will pass state Senate, says Manhattan Sen. Thomas Duane" - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/02/2009-06-02_progay_nups_pol_itll_pass.html#ixzz0HHqw6kfQ&A
Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) said he's received assurances of support from more than the 32 senators needed to approve the bill.
"I have the votes," said Duane, who predicted the Senate would vote on the matter before the end of its session this month.
Duane declined to say which senators had agreed to support the bill, but said the list included some Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) and gay-marriage advocates stopped short of backing Duane's claim, saying only that the measure is gaining momentum.
"There's still work to be done," said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda.
The Assembly easily approved a same-sex marriage bill last month, but the legislation faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
No Republican senators have publicly expressed support for the measure.
Several Democratic senators, including Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx and George Onorato of Queens, have said they plan to vote against it.
Diaz, a fierce opponent of gay marriage, accused Duane of skewing the vote tally to force the matter on to the floor.
"It's unprofessional to be playing with people's minds," Diaz said.
Smith supports gay marriage but has said he will not bring the matter to the floor until it has enough votes to pass.
Paterson has urged Senate leadership to put the bill to a floor vote, regardless of the vote count.
gblain@nydailynews.com
BY Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU
Monday, June 1st 2009, 9:06 PM
Read more: "Gay marriage will pass state Senate, says Manhattan Sen. Thomas Duane" - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/02/2009-06-02_progay_nups_pol_itll_pass.html#ixzz0HHqw6kfQ&A
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