BREAKING: NY Senate to vote on marriage equality legislation today

[Are_grits_groceries]

Update: The bill just passed the Senate Rules Committee.
From Austin Shafran, the spokesperson for the Senate Majority Conference:

"The Senate will reconvene in extraordinary session today at which time it intends to vote on the deficit reduction plan, Tier V pension reform, public authority reform, and marriage equality legislation.
Session is streamed live on the internet at http://nysenate.gov; the debate on marriage equality will be carried via satellite, with coordinates to be released later in the day prior to the bill being brought to the floor."

live stream: http://nysenate.gov;/

http://www.openleft.com/diary/16279/breaking-senate-to-vote-on-marriage-equality-legislation-today

Could be interesting...

[rurallib]

1. Any idea how it may go?

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Not a clue. nt

[closeupready]

3. Probably be close - Paterson supports.

And Ruben Diaz seemed worried yesterday, so that's a good sign.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. Apparently nobody in the NY Senate has a clue either:

ALBANY — The State Senate scheduled a vote later on Wednesday about whether to legalize same-sex marriage, but the outcome remained uncertain with people on both sides of the debate conceding they did not know how the vote would play out.
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/nyregion/03marriage.html?hp

Who wanted to pull this maneuver and why?

[clear eye]

5. Voted to table.

Arghh. :banghead:

On edit--They DID vote to "lay the bill aside", but according to my state Senator's office, they will probably get back to it today. It's not quite the same as "tabling".

[bluestateguy]

6. Will they pass exactly the same bill the Assembly passed?

Thereby sending the bill straight to the governor?

[clear eye]

7. Yes, if they pass it.

Dems' grip on Senate is extremely tenuous, and upstaters and the more religious segment of urban African-Americans are more opposed than for.

http://open.nysenate.gov/openleg/api/html/bill/S4401

[Neecy]

8. Fingers crossed.....

This would be a bright spot in what's been a depressing year for gay rights.

[ieoeja]

9. One of several bright spots.

While it had a couple of bad turns, it has mostly been a heck of a good year for same-sex marriage advocates.

The bad: Maine legalized it, but then revoked it all in the same year. California reverted to domestic partnerships.

The good: Washington state, Oregon, District of Columbia, Colorado, and Nevada introduced or improved something akin to domestic partnerships.

The best: New Hampshire, Vermont and Iowa legalize same-sex marriage.

[xynthee]

11. I'm a nervous wreck!

I don't think I can endure any more disappointment on this issue. Please, please, please, please, please!!!!

[BR_Parkway]

10. You can watch live here at this link:

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/12/watch-live-new-york-senate.html

[xynthee]

12. Hate wins again!

Why do I bother getting my hopes up about ANYTHING anymore?