ALBANY—Some pre-same-sex marriage Senate tea leaves:
Christine Quinn, the openly gay speaker of the New York City Council, is here. I snapped this photo of her near the Senate chamber, where she told me “I’m up here hopeful there will be a vote on marriage equality and that it will move the issue forward.”
A bunch of senators were lingering in the chamber just before 11 a.m., and I asked several whose positions have been unclear what their positions were on the bill.
Joe Addabbo, a Democrat who represents a conservative slice of Queens: “We’ll see, the suspense is killing us.”
Roy Mcdonald, a Republican who represents parts of the Capital Region: “Stick around and you’ll see. I think it’s appropriate to wait until that time.”
Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx Democrat who is a vocal opponent of the legislation and never shy about: “Wait until the floor.”
Jim Alesi, a Rochester-area Republican: “We’ll see. I don’t think they have the votes for it.” He told Ken Lovett that the climate now was not right.
Carl Kruger, a Brooklyn Democrat aligned with Diaz who has assiduously avoided taking a position: “I always like to hear debate.”
Joe Robach, another Rochester-are Republican who was once a Democrat: “I support civil unions. Have for 10 years. You can’t be any more consistent than that.”
Senators just approved the deficit reduction bill, with Diaz Sr. as well as Republicans Frank Padavan and Andrew Lanza voting against it. Senators also approved a new pension tier and a bill restructuring public authority oversight.
The bill was brought up around 11:45 a.m. A message of necessity from David Paterson was accepted, and it was laid aside.
The Senate is now standing at ease. You can tune in to a Webcast of the debate here.
