New York Assembly OKs Gay Marriage. C’mon, Senators
Yeah, yeah. As expected. Now it’s time for the New York Senate, and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, to make an embarrassment of equal rights. One notable aspect about the Assembly’s passage? This year’s vote was 89-52, while the similar bill it passed in 2007 came in at 85-61. More yes votes this time, fewer neys: Signs of progress?
doesn’t the governor have any pull in NY? in any normal situation, he should be the de facto head of his state’s dems.
How is 52 nays more than 61?
david, you’re right. I was thinking how did they increase the number of legistators. Oops
more neys??? are you so quick to post these pieces you don’t double check your statements? come on!
It´s up to you…New York, Newwwwwww Yoooooooooooork!
The Governor has no pull in NYS. The make-up of the state government is each branch of the legislature is it’s own fiefdom and the Big 3 – Governor, Speaker of Assembly, and Senate Majority Leader – have fashioned policy and budgets on compromise for the past 50-60 years. As for the power of this particular Governor, he is ignored by Democrats at fundraisers when he speaks, his introductions by his peers make it seem like they hate having to be around him, and his approval ratings are lower than mine (and I’m not even a public figure!).
My hopes fade every time I look at the list of all the NY Senators’ stance on the issue. If they were only able to get 5 GOP in the larger Assembly, I don’t see how this bill can pass the Senate with 6 Dems against it. Not without some huge effort.
@dgz: No. And this isn’t “normal”, this is NY. As @CHIP says, Paterson is nearly powerless as he & Malcolm Smith are being held hostage by the homobigot “Conservadems”. We really need to do something about this in 2010.
It’s more important than ever to contact New York State Senators. Please call and email New York State Senators NOW and encourage them to vote YES on marriage equality.
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/.....l?openform
Here are some of the Senators that need to be contacted.
John Sampson (D-Brooklyn)
(718) 649-7653
(518) 455-2788
sampson@senate.state.ny.us
Brian Foley (D-Suffolk County)
518-455-2303
631-360-3356
bfoley@senate.state.ny.us
Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D-Bronx)
(718) 547-8854
(518) 455-2061
hassellt@senate.state.ny.us
George Onorato (D-Astoria)
(718) 545-9706
(518) 455-3486
onorato@senate.state.ny.us
William Stachowski (D-Buffalo)
(518)-455-2426
(716)-826-3344
stachows@senate.state.ny.us
David Valesky (D-Oneida)
518-455-2838
315-478-8745
valesky@senate.state.ny.us
Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica)
(718) 523-3069 Office
(518) 455-3531 Office
shuntley@senate.state.ny.us
Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau County)
516-739-1700
518-455-2200
hannon@senate.state.ny.us
Thomas Morahan (R-Rockland County)
(518) 455-3261
(845) 425-1818
morahan@senate.state.ny.us
Vincent Leibell (R-Putnam and Westchester Counties)
(518) 455-3111
(845) 279-3773
leibell@senate.state.ny.us
James Alesi (R-Rochester)
(518) 455-2015
(585) 223-1800
alesi@senate.state.ny.us