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November 6, 2009

NY Gov. Paterson puts gay marriage on agenda

By MICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. David Paterson will take a shot at fulfilling his promise to legalize same-sex marriage in an extraordinary session Tuesday, but it's uncertain whether there will be a final vote on the bill.

The Democrat, flagging in the polls as he runs for election in 2010, has long made passing the bill a policy goal and it is a big part of his effort to energize his chances for election.

Although the Legislature is required to attend the session, it isn't required to vote. The bill requires final legislative approval in the Democrat-controlled Senate, but it's unclear if there are enough Republican votes to compensate for a few Democrats who oppose it on religious grounds.

Democrats hold a 32-30 majority.

Compounding the issue is the death of the mother of Democratic Sen. Thomas Duane of Manhattan, the bill's longtime leading sponsor. He has been the key in negotiations and in persuading colleagues to vote for the measure. Her death was announced Thursday; the funeral services may not be complete until Monday.

Maine's same-sex marriage law was repealed Tuesday in a referendum, 53 percent to 47 percent, a bitter setback to gay advocates. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont, and becomes legal in New Hampshire in January.

Whether any other items on Paterson's agenda go to a vote is also uncertain.

He called the session to act on spending cuts — including a 4.5 percent midyear school aid reduction — to address a deficit of more than $3 billion. But there are no deals yet with the Senate or Democrat-led Assembly.

In Albany, most policy and fiscal deals are struck in closed-door meetings, announced, then formally adopted in public sessions of the Senate and Assembly.

The Democrat also wants lawmakers to consider long-sought reform of the so-called "shadow government," public authorities who have been caught in several scandals.

"We have made enormous progress and should be able to iron out differences quickly and effectively," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, the Westchester Democrat who has sponsored the measure.

Other items on Paterson's agenda include creating a new, less expensive and less generous pension tier for new state hires, stiffer penalties for drunken driving when a child is in the vehicle, and a property tax relief plan.

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