New York's Marriage Equality Bill Could Get Vote Next Week

According to Newsday, the recent New York senate coup could be an unexpected and rather ironic boon for the state's marriage equality bill.

What was at first seen as the death knell for the bill may turn out to be its salvation. The new disputed leaders of the senate, a bipartisan coalition, Republican Sen. Dean Skelos and Democrat Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., say a vote on the bill could come as early as next week.

Sen. Espada, who supports marriage equality, stated he didn't know what the outcome would be, but Sen. Duane, sponsor of the bill, claimed last week that he had the 32 votes needed to pass the bill.

But all of this could be a moot point as former (or legal?) Senate Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith, is arguing that the new senate leadership has wrested control illegally. If he's proven correct, he would be back in power and more than likely keep the bill from being voted on since he claims it won't pass.

Only time will tell the fate of marriage equality in New York.

Image: Democrat Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., and Republican Sen. Dean Skelos

UPDATE: NY Gov. David Paterson Backpedals on Same-Sex Marriage Bill

UPDATE: New York newspaper, the Post-Standard, has issued an editorial, "A Civil Right: Legislature has no reason to delay on same-sex marriage", a MUST READ.
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After unveiling same-sex marriage legislation last week in a widely watched press conference, New York Gov. David A. Paterson seems to be backpedaling on his strong hand approach.

Wednesday he announced that he would follow State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith plan not to put the bill to a vote without knowing it would pass.

"I'm very concerned about putting a bill on the floor that's going to be symbolism and not pass. . . . I'm going to count until I know that I have 32, if not 34, votes," he said last week.

Smith has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage legislation and was working on introducing a bill until the governor came along demanding immediate action. The governor's action starkly contrasted New York tradition of not introducing controversial legislation without knowing the outcome of the vote. The bill is expected to pass the House.

Currently, the Democrats hold the majority 32-30 in the state's Senate, but four Democrats said they would vote against the bill. Smith was working on getting more votes from across the aisle.

"On this particular bill, there are a lot of other issues related to it," Paterson told reporters Wednesday. "Senator Smith knows the inertia of the Senate better than anyone else . . . I'll stick with his final judgment."

After Paterson's comments Wednesday, Smith was asked for a response. Before he could reach the microphone, the governor quipped, "Senator Smith agrees with me completely." Smith replied, "Absolutely."

Looks like were back to square one.