NY governor pushes for new special sessions next week to consider same-sex marriage bill

NY governor pushes for gay marriage vote next week

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s governor is pushing state lawmakers to consider a bill to legalize same-sex marriage bill next week after his effort to force a Senate vote appears all but lost.

Gov. David Paterson is placing the bill on agendas for special sessions on Nov. 16 and 17. Senate Democrats said the bill wasn’t likely to be considered during Tuesday’s special session.

Paterson is urging a vote even if the bill he strongly supports fails. The Democrat says putting senators on the spot for their position is better than inaction while forces try to muster the votes behind the scenes.

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes the bill, says the failure of a vote Tuesday is a crushing blow to the advocates.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — After weeks of uncertainty and pleas for action by Gov. David Paterson, New York’s Senate wasn’t expected to vote on a bill legalizing same-sex marriage during Tuesday’s special session.

Speaking after the Democratic majority met behind closed doors, Sen. Neil Breslin of Albany County said flatly the bill wouldn’t get to the floor, though it could come up later if other special sessions are called.

Sen. David Valesky of central New York also said it appeared the measure wouldn’t get to a long-awaited vote.

“I think it’s a crushing blow,” said the Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes same-sex marriage. “I’m a little hesitant to call it dead yet. It’s never over until it’s over … but if they had the votes it would have gone to the floor.”

Although McGuire acknowledged the issue could re-emerge before Jan. 1, he said he doubted that lawmakers would be inclined to consider it next year, when they all face re-election.

McGuire said last week’s special election for New York’s rural 23rd Congressional District showed a resurgence in the power of the Conservative Party, which opposes gay marriage, and “marginal” incumbents won’t want to risk their seats for the issue. In that race, Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman forced the more moderate Republican nominee, Dierdre Scozzafava, to suspend her campaign by passing her in the polls and in fundraising; Hoffman narrowly lost the race to Democrat Bill Owens.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Thomas Duane of Manhattan, refused to comment even on whether he wants it to get to the floor, where approval is uncertain.

When asked if he feels the bill will eventually be approved, he said: “I’m very optimistic.”

Sen. Martin Malave Dilan of Brooklyn said the measure could still come up later Tuesday, but it wasn’t scheduled for the Senate’s initial meeting.

The Senate convened and adjourned after less than 30 minutes, the vast majority of which was spent honoring members who were military veterans. Same-sex marriage wasn’t debated or on the agenda. The senators returned to closed-door session and will have to come back into open session at some point, if only to gavel out and fulfill their obligation under the governor’s call for a special session.

Paterson said Monday he hoped the bill would be voted on this week, indicating it might see action after Tuesday’s session. He has said he would sign the measure into law and pressed senators to follow the lead of the Assembly, which passed it earlier this year. Legislators said Tuesday they may return next week as well as in December.

The leading opponent of the measure in the Senate, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx Democrat and conservative minister, said he was prepared to strongly oppose the bill and the governor, who promised its passage this year. Diaz said he canceled a cruise with his wife this week — Tuesday is her birthday — and lost a deposit “because of this governor.”

The measure wasn’t brought to the floor after the Assembly acted in the spring because there weren’t enough votes in the 32-30 Democratic majority to pass it. A few Democrats opposed the bill on religious grounds.

It’s likely some Republican votes will be needed for passage. Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County has released his members to act as they see fit, freeing them from the usual practice of bloc voting.