NY Assembly OKs same-sex marriage bill by larger margin

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NY Assembly OKs same-sex marriage bill by larger margin

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stmarr1312759152may12,0,1837357.story

BY JAMES T. MADORE | [email protected]
10:59 PM EDT, May 12, 2009

ALBANY - As the State Assembly last night passed a same-sex marriage bill by a larger margin than two years ago, its fate in the State Senate remained uncertain.

Even though Democrats now control the Senate, Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D- St. Albans) acknowledged Tuesday that he needed Republican votes for adoption. Efforts to persuade wavering senators will be aided by the lower chamber's action, he said.

In the Senate, 32 votes are needed for passage and at least six of 32 Democrats have said they oppose the bill.

"We do know that it will probably take a mixture of votes and we're working on it," Smith told Newsday. He has said he will not bring the measure to a vote without first knowing it will pass.

Heretofore, Smith has relied on Democrats for adoption of major legislation, including the 2009-10 budget and a bailout of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Sen. Dean Skelos (R- Rockville Centre), the minority leader, has described gay marriage as a "vote of conscience," not requiring senators to vote along party lines.

In the 150-member Assembly Tuesday, 89 voted in favor of legalizing civil marriages between two men or two women, up from 85 in 2007. Fifty-two members voted no.

Long Island's delegation was almost evenly divided, with 10 members supporting the bill and 11 against.

Wow, there's a chance that NY may eventually treat humans as humans.... External Image