After weeks ago demanding New York legislators put same-sex marriage to a vote, Gov. David Paterson opted to make restoring order to the Senate his top goal with a special session he called on Tuesday. Announcing the move on Sunday, his administration wouldn’t confirm whether getting everyone to vote on same-sex marriage would also be a priority. Now, Paterson says it is.
After this month’s political circus that left both Dems and Repubs claiming leadership in the Senate, and given today is the Senate’s last day of a regular session before its summer break, what’s Paterson’s plan if he can’t get the senators to cooperate? He’ll get badass:
“If the senators do not cooperate with this order, I will convene a special session every day until they do,” the governor said at the news conference. “That includes Saturdays and Sundays. That includes July 4. There will be no excuses.”
[…] The governor said Sunday night that he was dismayed by the outcry from gay rights advocates and decided he needed to clarify his intentions.
“I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize it,” he said of the legislation. “But I think, because of the activity that went on today, I am forced to reveal my true intentions, even though the advocates knew them already.”
And getting the senators to agree on who’s in control is not just a same-sex marriage issue, but a matter for all New Yorkers:
The governor said that the special session will focus on routine but urgent legislation that local governments depend upon, like bills to extend local sales taxes or allow bond issuance. His staff said he would also include legislation to extend mayoral control over New York City’s schools in the list of bills he submits to the Senate.
George
Good for him. The man may be a bit of a hapless dolt, but if he survives a dem primary he has me vote.
Quinn
I agree, George. The man his not that bright, and I disagree with him on a lot of things, but when he’s on fire – he’s on fire.
Ousslander
Agreed. It’s about time he showed some backbone and real leadership. If he follows through, my opinion of him will do a 180
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Yay, do it before Giuliani is Governor.
edgyguy1426
@Quinn: Same thing here in Chicago. We have a mayor, not the brightest bulb who is always in the LGBT corner.
ScubaSteve
Paterson is showing tremendous leadership with this and I think it’s about time for his tepid supporters and the many democrats who don’t know him well enough to support him to rise up together and backk this man.
He has almost singlehandedly made marriage equality a priority in NYS and he’s continuing to do so despite a completely broken state legislature.
If this isn’t real state leadership, then someone please explain to me what is.
Cam
I will not Donate to the DNC or Obama until I see any movement on gay issues…however Patterson? One of a very few politicians that I will be sending money to. Thanks Gov, we appriciate it.
Wayne
It’s called leadership and it is sorely needed in New York. Paterson is the only one showing it. He’s got my vote.
PuddyKatz
Didn’t he actually say on Saturday that same sex marriage would not be on the agenda for the special sessions and then reversed himself on Monday? This is leadership?
He’ll cave again. The man is impossible to trust.
galefan2004
@PuddyKatz: The sky is falling, the world is ending…yada, yada, yada. Can you please keep your doom saying limited to when their is actual proof of doom? Thanks.
Puddy Katz
It looks like a lot of people who for whatever reason are really intent on supporting Patterson are posting here. Perhaps they work in his office!
Patterson and Malcolm Smith have been back and forth on this issue from day one. Google the New York Times if you want proof Galefan2004. They are afraid of offending the more conservative members of the Democratic caucus in the State Senate (largely evangelical Christians.)They have not strongly supported Tom Duane’s attempt to reach across the ailes to friendly Republicans.
The New York Times reported Patterson had taken it off the agenda. ESPA criticized him for that. He reversed himself. Given this trackrecord it is hardly doom saying, it is a reasonable expectation that this will not come up, or if it does come up it will do so with such little support that it will fail. Right now there is not even a functioning NY Senate so it is hard to believe anything will get done.
Finally ScubaSteve “leadership” involves competence, which Patterson has not displayed. He has the lowest ratings of any governor in NY State’s recent history.
If Patterson fails on this, and I believe he will, it will be up to Andrew Cuomo to get it done. Cuomo is more likely to accomplish this.
galefan2004
@Puddy Katz: I’m not defending Patterson. I’m just saying that you were going completely doom and gloom without waiting to see what happens. Unfortunately, the days when The New York Times was a 100% credible source are definitely over. Just because they reported it that way doesn’t mean that is the way it is.
Puddy Katz
J@galefan2004: Just received an email from Marriage Equality New York urging me to call Patterson’s office and urge him to keep same sex marriage on the agenda. Looks like one of the leading organizations in the state is not entirely sure itself of his intentions.
It was not just the one report from the NY Times, it was Patterson and Smith’s behavior around this issue from day one.
Clarknt67
Alas, Patterson seems like toast, politically. Polling match-ups have him losing to everyone from Guiliani to Coumo, to Al Roker.
I respect and like him, but fear he can’t go the distance if he seeks and wins the Dem nomination. I hope he chooses to make Marriage Equality his lasting legacy to the Empire State. We’ll always remember him as the one who ushered it in.
Think about it, Gov’nor!