Says Gay City News:

Shortly after 8 p.m., Paterson, four senior Senate Democrats — Jeffrey Klein of the Bronx and Westchester, the deputy majority leader; Eric Adams of Brooklyn; and Manhattanites Eric Schneiderman and Thomas K. Duane, the measure’s lead sponsor — and Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA), the state’s LGBT lobby, appeared before the press to announce that the Senate leadership has made a specific commitment to hold a debate and vote on marriage equality before the end of 2009.

The implications cannot be underestimated. Since April, Paterson has consistently called for a vote, which ESPA on several occasions demanded and Duane said repeatedly he has the bipartisan support to pass.

But, to date, the two top Senate Democrats — first Malcolm Smith of Queens, and since a month-long mutiny this past summer by two party members that temporarily denied Democrats the majority, John Sampson of Brooklyn — have pledged to bring a vote only when they can be assured of passage. Given that some of the yes votes Duane and ESPA say they’ve secured have not been made public, it has been difficult to hold leadership accountable according to their standard.

Now that has changed. “For the very first time, we have an historic commitment from the Senate majority to bring the bill to the floor,” Van Capelle told Gay City News the morning after the announcement. “I believe that we had the votes to pass the bill in June. I believe if it had been debated last night we would have had the votes.”

Trying to decipher the machinations of deal making in Albany, New York is impossible. Add to that a political culture that is a wreck of mess, and it should come as no surprise  the state is facing budget ruin. Despite all of this, it looks like gay marriage will get a hearing before the year is out. Yesterday Gov.David A. Paterson said the state’s Senate leadership promised a gay marriage vote.

“This is the first time that the Senate leadership has indicated that it will support a vote on marriage equality,” Paterson said. “This is a stunning and very happy development in this process. I will continue to place marriage equality on any special sessions that I call on Monday and Tuesday because I feel that the bill should be debated immediately. However, I have profound respect for the leadership of the Senate and the process that they took to bring us to this vote.”

Yesterday was the type of day that would tire the patience of any marriage advocate. For awhile it looked like the Senate was going to punt and to be honest, I really have no idea how marriage will fare in the Big Apple Empire State. Sure the Democrats have a slim majority, but when it comes to marriage equality I’ve decided to stop paying attention to polls and what people say they will do.

Last year during the race for president there was much talk about the infamous Bradley Effect. The theory that white voters are never honest when polled  if they will vote for a black candidate, has been discredited but was part of the media narrative. Looks like it applies more to marriage rights.

Advocates and opponents say the Senate lacked the 32 votes needed to approve the measure, which Paterson strongly supports and the Assembly already passed.

By evening, Paterson put same-sex marriage on agendas for new special sessions for Monday and Tuesday. Later, standing with supporters of the bill, Paterson said he had a commitment by the Senate to bring the issue to a vote by the end of the year, although its outcome remains uncertain. He urged senators who support the measure to ignore “an almost cowardice about battles.”

“I implore them that I would rather see an up or down vote, than no action at all,” the governor told reporters. “Historically, I think we have lost touch with how movements of equality were reached. There were a lot of ups and downs,” he said, citing the civil rights movement as an example.

“If this bill is put on the floor, there are a lot of people whose consciences will let them vote for the bill, but who just don’t want to stomach all the activity around them if they take a position before the vote,” he added.

The Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes same-sex marriage, called it a “crushing blow” to same-sex marriage advocates.

“I’m a little hesitant to call it dead yet,” McGuire said. “It’s never over until it’s over … but if they had the votes it would have gone to the floor.”

McGuire acknowledged the issue could re-emerge before Jan. 1, but said he doubted lawmakers would be inclined to consider it next year, when they all face re-election.

McGuire said last week’s special election for New York’s rural 23rd Congressional District showed a resurgence in the power of the Conservative Party, which opposes gay marriage, and “marginal” incumbents won’t want to risk their seats for the issue.

In the congressional race, Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman forced the more moderate Republican nominee, Dierdre Scozzafava, to suspend her campaign by passing her in the polls and in fundraising. Hoffman narrowly lost the race to Democrat Bill Owens.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Thomas Duane of Manhattan, refused to comment even on whether he wants it to get to the floor, where approval is uncertain.

When asked if he feels the bill will eventually be approved, he said: “I’m very optimistic.”

The Senate convened and adjourned after less than 30 minutes, the vast majority of which was spent honoring members who were military veterans. Same-sex marriage wasn’t debated or on the agenda.

Paterson has said he would sign the measure into law and pressed senators to follow the lead of the Assembly, which passed it earlier this year. Legislators said Tuesday they may return next week as well as in December.

The leading opponent of the measure in the Senate, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx Democrat and conservative minister, said he was prepared to strongly oppose the bill and the governor, who promised its passage this year. Diaz said he canceled a cruise with his wife this week – Tuesday is her birthday – and lost a deposit “because of this governor.”

The measure wasn’t brought to the floor after the Assembly acted in the spring because there weren’t enough votes in the 32-30 Democratic majority to pass it. A few Democrats opposed the bill on religious grounds.

It’s likely some Republican votes will be needed for passage. Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County has released his members to act as they see fit, freeing them from the usual practice of bloc voting.

This announcement comes a week after a Maine referendum soundly repealed that state’s new same-sex marriage law.

Although he can require the Legislature consider the bill, he can’t compel lawmakers to vote.

Also on Monday, Christine Quinn, New York City’s openly gay council speaker, offered an impassioned plea for the state Senate to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

In a rare midyear address to a joint meeting of the Assembly and Senate, Paterson also implored lawmakers use their power to tackle the state’s $3.2 billion budget deficit.

This comes a week after a Maine referendum soundly repealed that state’s new same-sex marriage law.

What appears to be a likely vote in New York is being forced by Gov. David Paterson who put it on the agenda of the extraordinary session he’s calling for Tuesday.

Although he can require the Legislature consider the bill, Paterson can’t compel lawmakers to vote. This makes for a rare moment in Albany when the outcome of the floor votes isn’t clear well before the formal action.

Meanwhile, same-sex marriage advocates remain pleased that they may finally get a vote for final legislative approval in the Senate. Still, they don’t know if there are enough votes to pass the bill.

“I think a lot of senators woke up this morning and realized a vote on marriage equality is real and could come tomorrow,” said Alan Van Capelle executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.

“I know about their family members who are gay and lesbian, their friends who are gay lesbian, and at the end of the day I believe, when this comes to the floor, these individuals will not be able to vote against their friends and their family,” he said. “Now is the time for them to stand up and be counted. All eyes are on Albany.”

The movement suffered setbacks last Tuesday in off-year elections. In Maine, a referendum repealed the same-sex marriage law.

The Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms said Tuesday’s results have shown even moderate Republicans that they can’t afford to back same-sex marriage going into the 2010 elections. He said the group is confident they have 35 or 36 senators opposed to the measure, which would block passage in the 62-seat house.

“God established marriage and I don’t think the state has a right to redefine it,” McGuire said. But he said the concern is really about children, who need to learn from mothers and fathers.

“Marriage is never about two people. It’s about future generations,” he said. “It does affect what’s good for society as a whole.”

Already passed in the Democrat-led Assembly and supported by Paterson, the measure wasn’t brought to the floor in the spring because there weren’t enough votes to pass it. Democrats hold a 32-30 majority, but a few opposed the bill on religious grounds.

Republican leader Dean Skelos has released his members to vote as they see fit, freeing them from the usual bloc voting. Van Capelle of the Pride Agenda called Skelos a “genuine, honest partner in this struggle,” a switch from previous years when Senate Republicans, then in the majority, killed the measure.

The Pride Agenda released the names Monday of 700 clergy and lay leaders from across New York State who support the bill.

Meanwhile, the extraordinary session is setting up a showdown with between Paterson and the Senate over how to address a $3.2 billion deficit and allow New York to pay its December bills.

Paterson hoped his rare midyear address Monday to a joint meeting of the Legislature would draw support for his plan to cut spending, among other measures.

But the Democrat-led Senate continues to oppose his proposal, pitching its own plan that avoids what the conference calls painful cuts.

Negotiations continue, with few deals in sight.

Paterson said he expects the state Senate to give the measure final legislative approval in weeks ahead and then he will sign it, making New York the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. Paterson can’t force the Senate to take up the bill and admitted to reporters he can’t guarantee its approval, but he says he’s now confident it will pass, as advocates and sponsors of the bill in Albany have been quietly working to build support.

The bill was blocked by a summer coup in the Senate in the final days of the regular session in June. The Democrat-led Assembly has already passed the measure.

Paterson’s statements Thursday came at the fall dinner in Manhattan of the influential gay rights group Empire State Pride Agenda. He said New York will have marriage equality “as a result of a law we will pass in the New York Senate, already passed in the Assembly, and will be signed by the governor, just in the next few weeks.”

The 1,200 people at the dinner cheered Paterson’s remarks.

“No longer in New York” will same-sex couples have to worry about insurance coverage, being allowed to visit each other hospitals, or whether they will be guaranteed the same rights as other married couples under law, he said.

Paterson said he’s spoken to advocates lobbying senators and “they believe if I put the bill on the calendar, it will pass. … I believe it will pass.”

In the spring, advocates had sought to withdraw the bill from the Senate agenda when it appeared it would be defeated.

More than a year ago, Paterson had framed the debate as a civil right long denied. But divisions among Senate Democrats earlier this year made approval unlikely after a few Democrats in the 32-30 majority objected to the bill on religious grounds.

Now, however, Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County says GOP senators won’t be asked to vote against the measure in a bloc and are free to vote for the bill.

A leading advocate and bill sponsor, Sen. Thomas Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, has declined to comment on the issue this week. Senate Democratic majority spokesman Austin Shafran said there has been no head count of votes on the issue.

To the crowd, Paterson joked that if anyone in a same-sex relationship had put off conversations about marriage because it wasn’t legal, “you’d better leave now because marriage equality is coming to New York City.”

Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont, and will start in New Hampshire in January. A referendum in Maine on Nov. 3 will determine the fate of a same-sex marriage bill passed by the Legislature in May.

Several other states offer civil unions, domestic partnerships or other arrangements that provide marriage-like rights to same-sex couples, including California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Wisconsin.

Sure his poll numbers would give any political operative agita. The state’s budget outlook is bleak and the New York Senate just ended a month of nutty nuttiness. Yet Gov. David Paterson was treated like a rock star when he walked into the Empire State Pride Agenda’s summer-tea fundraiser.The annual event, held this past Saturday in East Hampton, Long Island, works as a social and a way for New York pols to show their love to Empire State gays and lesbians. Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made an appearance but Paterson was the main attraction. People rushed him, shook his hand, spoke into his ear, and cameras worked overtime.

Makes sense really. Sure he might not get reelected next year but only the churlish would say Paterson has not carried the water for gay marriage. Now it’s fair to question his motives and to note he usurped the long and dogged work others had done before him (like the folk at ESPA); however, Paterson has his pen ready to sign a gay marriage bill. And unlike another executive we all know and love (he lives in the White House), no one doubts the governor will give the bill his John Hancock.

Paterson has hinted he would like the Senate to deal to with marriage rights in September. If he holds to the plan, the governor will call the Legislature back for a special session to fix the state’s budget in the early fall; the Senate will be able to vote on gay marriage then (the Assembly has already passed a gay marriage bill).

I’ve repeated myself but it rings truer now. If you live in New York and gay marriage is your issue, then now is the time to get out the wallet and donate some cash to Paterson (I’m sure he wouldn’t mind some volunteer hours also). He’s going to need all the help he can muster. Plus you owe him.

Though the New York Senate passed over 100 bills Friday night, they did not vote on several big issues, such as marriage equality and mayoral control of city schools.

The Senate had been enduring a month-long stalemate after State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. switched sides to align with the Republicans. On Thursday, Espada rejoined the Democratic Party and was appointed senate majority leader. Former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith remains Senate president and Senator John Sampson became the Democratic conference leader.

Read the full NY1 story with video  here.

Bronx Sen. Pedro Espada’s return gives Democrats a 32-30 majority for the first time since the June 8 coup.

For more than a month, the Senate’s paralysis stalled action on mayoral control of New York City’s schools, taxing authority in some municipalities and economic development programs.

As part of the deal, Espada takes the title of Senate majority leader.

Espada’s move comes after Democratic Gov. David Paterson’s shocking decision to appoint a lieutenant governor to preside over the Senate, giving his party the upper hand in a chamber that’s been divided 31-31.

But whether it will end what Paterson called the embarrassing spectacle over control of the chamber, or prolong it in the courts, was unknown in the unpredictable political saga.

Paterson chose 76-year-old Richard Ravitch, a former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman, to be his lieutenant governor, who can preside over the Senate and break at least some tie votes.

In a televised address, the Democratic governor made the announcement and said he did it because the state is in crisis over the Senate’s 31-31 split in a power struggle now in its fifth week.

It had been widely assumed since the 1940s that a vacancy in the largely ceremonial lieutenant governor’s job could only be filled in a general election. But Paterson said an unorthodox approach is needed after he failed to force the Senate to act after calling 18 special sessions and denying their pay and expenses.

“Now, New Yorkers are starting to suffer,” Paterson said. “This is the right thing to do, I have no doubt of that.”

Pending a likely court battle, Paterson’s decision appears to give the Democratic Party he heads control of the Senate again, after the Republican-dominated coalition seized it June 8.

Ravitch intends to work for no compensation in the job, which normally pays $151,500 a year, said Peter Kauffmann, a spokesman for the governor.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos said Paterson violated the constitution and acted illegally and recklessly to serve his political prospects in 2010. Skelos said the appointment “will create even more chaos that will result in more lawsuits and more government gridlock.”

Ravitch is a partner in the law firm Ravitch Rice & Company LLC. He started his work in federal government in 1966 with the National Commission on Urban Problems under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1975, Gov. Hugh Carey put him in charge of the independent authority helping build low-income apartments that eventually became the Empire State Development Corp.

Paterson’s rare televised address was promoted through his 2010 campaign committee.

New York has been without a lieutenant governor since Paterson rose from the position to become governor in March 2008 after Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace.