CODA:NY Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill 80-63; Legislation Moves to GOP-controlled State Senate

NY Times reports that the GOP conference in State Senate stalled on NYS Gay Marriage Bill, although Dean Skelos, Senate Majority Leader, reports that discussions are continuing. More here

The Assembly Wednesday passed a bill to legalize gay marriage while Senate Republicans battled over whether to let the measure come to a floor vote. The measure passed 80 to 63, the lowest margin in the four times it has been approved by the Assembly since 2007.

The NY Daily Nes reports: "It feels different this time because I'm very hopeful it will pass the Senate and become law this year," said Assembly bill sponsor Daniel O'Donnell (D-Manhattan), one of a handful of gay state lawmakers.

Gov. Cuomo, who has made gay marriage a priority, crowed, "We are on the verge of a pinnacle moment for this state."

The fate of the bill is still up in the air in the GOP-controlled Senate, where 31 senators are on record as supporting it - one shy of the 32 needed for passage.

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