NY: Gov. Paterson taking another crack at marriage equality bill

[ccharles000]

So is there a chance in hell that this will go anywhere, or is this just window dressing in the wake of other marriage equality wins over the last week? It's pretty embarrassing that NY has been foot-dragging on this one for some time, with a handful of socially conservative Dems standing in the way.
Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York.
The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who -- with Paterson as his running mate -- campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included marriage equality.

"We'll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the other," Paterson said Wednesday morning on WHCU-AM (870) in Ithaca.

But even with legislation from Paterson, the state Legislature has not signaled the bill would pass both houses. In 2007, the state Assembly passed Spitzer's marriage bill, but it stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate and remains that way now under Democratic control.

But in reality, the votes aren't there, but it would be an opportunity to put it out there for debate, which has its own value, as we saw in VT. Gov. Paterson said: "Why can't a bill just be on the floor and lose? If you have the votes later on to pass it, bring it back."

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/10331/ny-gov-paterson-taking-another-crack-at-marriage-equality-bill

[saltpoint]

1. This is an issue, along with any number of others, which may see fruition

under another governor.

I'm not sure David Paterson is going to be around much longer in his current job.

[customerserviceguy]

2. It gets fruition

when we get rid of the cultural "Catholics" who are afraid of being denied communion for doing the fair thing. And a goodly number of them call themselves Democratic, unfortunately.

[saltpoint]

3. I'm wondering what chance Paterson has to retain his job. From the

reports out of the polling in NY State, it doesn't look very solid for his chances.

My long-range hunch is that if Andrew Cuomo wants that nomination, it's his.

And I think he'd likely prevail over Giuliani or whatever other hack the GOP sends up.

As for the support in NY State for marriage equality, that sounds pretty encouraging to me. Here's hoping it happens, and sooner rather than later.

If two people love each other, as much legal support as possible should be at their disposal. And where that support is exclusional, those laws should be changed.

[customerserviceguy]

4. There have been lots of ads run here against him

by the hospital workers unions that are facing $4 billion in state funding cutbacks. I'm surprised he's still running stronger in the opinion polls than Bernie Madoff.

[saltpoint]

5. customerserviceguy, your post makes me homesick for

New York City. Right now, I realize, there's some tension just about everywhere on the financial front, coast to coast, but you remind me that New York State is genuinely interesting and engaged.

I really liked it when I lived there and on nights like this, I miss it pretty bad.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Well, to tell you the truth

I sure do miss the Pacific Northwest! But after nearly two years of living here, this place is starting to grow on me...

[saltpoint]

7. Give it just a little while longer. I always found there was more to do

than there is in a lot of other places.

And the politics -- it is a rough-and-tumble world for sure, but never dull. I go back to the Bella Abzug days in New York City. It was a wild time, full of disappointment and great exhilaration.