(NY) Gay Marriage Vote Advances

[brooklynite]

Source: NY Daily News

Here's the strongest sign yet that the gay marriage bill will indeed come to the Senate floor for a vote before the day is over: Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., the measure's most outspoken opponent, has retired to his Albany office to pray.

"I don't know why it has to be done in special session. I don't know why it has to be today. Is it going to be done? I believe so," Diaz Sr. told me rather glumly during a brief telephone interview just now.


...snip...

Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell, who is carrying the marriage bill in the lower house, told Jimmy Vielkind this afternoon that the Assembly plans to re-pass the measure (for the third time) while gaveled in for extraordinary session.

This robs the Senate of an excuse some lawmakers were raising in hopes of avoiding a vote. In order to be eligible for signing by the governor, a so-called "same-as" bill has to pass both houses. It needs to be absolutely identical, not a measure passed in regular session versus one that passed in extraordinary session.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/

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For those not up on NYS politics, Ruben Diaz, a Democrat, is an ordained Minister and a leading opponent of Gay Rights in New York.

[bluestateguy]

1. This has been On Again Off Again for months now

nt

[PHIMG]

6. That is true but mainly because of the Senate leadership fight

And then because of the budget crisis. The budget should be passed tomorrow clearing the way for this vote.

[radhika]

2. Does NY have an initiative process like CA & Maine?

If so, I'm sure those pesky catholics, mormons and evangelicals will get together for another of their successful hate campaigns.

[tabbycat31]

4. not that I am aware of

when I lived in NY, I don't ever remember voting on an issue

[PHIMG]

5. Nope

There is almost zero chance of this being overturned at the ballot box.

[AlbertCat]

3. Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., the measure's most outspoken opponent, has retired to his Albany office to pray

He can pray on his own damn time. How about doing what's right for NY?

We have got to get rid of these people for whom theocracy trumps the Constitution and common sense in all of Government.