New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson, who last week called for immediate action on legislation to legalize same-gender-marriage in New York, said Wednesday he will abide by the Senate Democratic leader’s decision on the best approach for trying to win Senate passage.
Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens backs the measure but wants to first secure the 32 votes needed necessary, and he has been missing a few. Announcing his support last week, Paterson urged putting it on the floor of the Legislature for debate despite an uncertain vote.
“Our work to correct injustice cannot depend on factors like timing or guaranteed success,” Paterson said last Thursday, noting “Toeiva” couples are denied some 1,300 rights granted to married couples. “We will not wait any longer. Now is the time for action.”
Talking to reporters Wednesday, Paterson said he won’t tell Smith what to do.
“On this particular bill, there are a lot of other issues related to it,” Paterson said. “Senator Smith knows the inertia of the Senate better than anyone else. I’ll stick with his judgment.”
The marriage bill passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly in 2007 and is expected to pass there again.
In the Senate, the former Senate Republican majority opposed it. The Democrats have a narrow 32-30 majority, but a few Democratic senators are opposed and no Republicans have come out in favor.
Smith said he remains “a strong supporter of marriage equality” and “fully committed to continuing the process of securing the 32 votes necessary for passage.”
A Siena poll released Monday found 53 percent of voters want the marriage bill, with support strongest among New York City Democrats, the political base of the governor from Harlem. Thirty-nine percent of voters opposed the measure, including most Republicans, men, older voters, blacks and Protestants.
Opponents include the Catholic Church.
(Source: NBC New York)
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8 Responses
If this bill passes, R”L, it could be the end of us Yidden living here in NY.
NOW is the time to speak up, before the DEMOnCRATS twist enough arms and bribe enough state senators to secure a majority for this Sodom bill.
p.s. DOV: WHERE ARE YOU?
Is there anyone out there that can educate ( the “FRUM” )Shelly Silver on the terrible Chillul Hashem distruction that such a bill would bring upon all of us, R”L?!
#1: Who said that NY is the ideal place for Yidden? After all, it isn’t the Hold Land. Being from “out of town,” we never understood why supposedly intelligent Yidden would chose to pay the highest property taxes, income taxes, home prices, tolls to go anywhere, etc. for the privilege of living in a decrepit city replete with rats, ubiquitous graffiti, a cesspool of a subway system, etc. If this bill makes Jews think twice about remaining in New York, than I’m all for it. I’d just as soon have Jews move to a state and region with family values, bucolic scenery, and a cost of living that people can afford.
Where in Obamaland is that, Reb Moshe(no 4)?
Definitely NOT in Obamaland, Deep Thinker. There are lots of lovely Red states that, I’m sure, would be happy to welcome frum yidden with traditional family values that do not include same-sex “marriage.” What I find interesting and ironic is that there is no shortage of hetero couples that davka DO NOT want to get married, yet they want to enjoy all rights and benefits of marriage. Go figure. (Also, what about the “marriage tax?” Isn’t it supposed to be more economical for couples to *not* be married to each other, for tax reasons?)
While I – as you – am against this bill, I believe that as more and more states pass such measures, it’s only be a matter of time until such “marriages” are part and parcel of American culture and recognized through the land.
What I find perhaps more troubling is that in Tel Aviv (in Eretz Yisroel), it’s not uncommon for unadulterated acts of mishkav zocher to take place on stage in front of hundreds (or even over a thousand) cheering people, yet to date I have not heard one frum person complain about such events. What was that about the Land spitting out its inhabitants?
Chodesh tov.
#6:
Your allegations about what goes on in Tel Aviv would be utterly shocking and horrifying, if true. However, I suspect that it is not. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Mishkav Zachor refers to a relatively specific act, which I would be shocked even if THEY were to do that on a stage/in public…
#7: I supplied a source (quote and link) from an article to bolster my claim; it was censored by the editor, so you’ll have to take my word for it, or do a quick Google and you’ll find it. The show took place a couple of years ago, after the Lebanon war (as a “gift” to the gay Israeli soldiers). This goes to show that when a segment of Klal Yisroel is bereft of Torah and Mitzvos, expect the worse, ba”h. We have seen this play out in history over and over again.