Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Albany gets back to work
After a month of escapades that made clown shows look classical, New York’s Senate is returning to work. The Democrats are now back in power and one of the men who brought the state’s business to a halt will be rewarded with a new gig.
When Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada left the Democrats to caucus with Senate Republicans approximately a month ago, state business came to a screeching halt. Now Espada has returned, Democrats have their original small majority, 32 to 30, and the renegade is the senate’s majority leader. Fellow Democrat Malcolm Smith keeps his title of Senate president.
For some reason a lot of our readers were convinced Espada’s actions were because he didn’t want to see a same sex marriage bill be voted on. Ahhh, if that were only the case. Espada is actually one of the co-sponsors of the gay marriage bill and promised since early June that once Albany got its act together (stop laughing!), he would bring the issue to a vote.
What will happen now as the dust is settling? State Sen. Tom Duane, the state’s only openly gay senator, issued a statement yesterday saying marriage rights in New York will be be put on the back burner.
“As disappointing as it is to admit, it is clear that this week is not the right moment for same-sex marriage legislation,” Duane wrote. “Senators need some time and distance to regroup after this month’s partisan-charged and explosive atmosphere. Before June 8th, Senators from both sides of the aisle committed to me that they would vote for marriage equality. I still believe this to be the case. However, as I have said many times this session, I will not gamble when civil rights are at stake. If this means a short delay in order for marriage to become law it is well worth the wait.”
This strikes me as the right note. Duane, whose advocacy for same sex marriage and other LGBT issues is impeccable, is realistic about the state’s political landscape right now. The kookiness of the past month makes it impossible for marriage rights to get a fair or just hearing. To push a vote for it now just to have a vote is more political theater than anything else. Plus this is Duane talking. He’s earned our trust on this topic.
Thank you State Senators for being completely selfish and idiotic. NYS politics= the SUCK!
It’s now New Jersey’s time for marriage equality in November. New York Assembly will have to gets itself back on track before it can do much business of any kind.
The New York Assembly owes a huge apology to its citizens for neglecting their interests and playing “games” with the well-being of the state.
The “it’s not the right time” argument is so frustrating to me. It may make some kind of sense, but it’s still delaying civil rights.
Espada, Monserrate, and Diaz all need to go. Espada and Monseratte for bringing State Senate business to a halt, Diaz for his hateful bigotry.
Any chance of a primary challenge in any of these three districts?
This makes me see why we should get rid of the two parties. While they are having a power struggle people are actually struggling and waiting for them to get something passed. No employer would accept this behavior so why should we accept this behavior from are elected leaders. Time to stop acting like children.
So for any New Yorkers reading this, next election vote out your representative and pick someone new.
Sue in federal court for your marriage rights!
Sounds like a quid-pro-quo deal was made and it involved the marriage deal. I hope someone is pushing on this. If that is what happened, fine. Maybe it is worth it to get Albany back to work. But we should know about it.
So after all the disgrace the only change is they have less respect from the public. We’re still being forced to wait because it’s not “time-sensitive” or “non-controversial”. Just vote on the damn thing. What’s the worst that can happen? If it doesn’t pass we’ll know who to persuade and can vote again on it next year.