Deep South Radio

The longest night of the legislative year ended up being abruptly cut short – leaving New York hanging not just on the open question of gay marriage, but also on questions that were thought to have been settled long ago.

The Senate adjourned after 10 p.m., despite senators’ repeated assertions they intended to debate into the wee hours of the morning. But it was clear by 9:30 p.m. that there was no agreement on the exact language for several major bills, including an omnibus bill that included rent regulations and a property tax cap, SUNY 2020 tuition increases – or same-sex marriage.

“I think a lot of people were hopeful they’d be voting on a number of issues tonight and they’re voting on none of them,” said Brian Ellner, of the Human Rights Campaign.

Gay marriage supporters had packed the Capitol throughout the day, expecting to witness a historic vote. They ended up roaring with anger when Senate Majority Dean Skelos apologized for the delay and said the body would adjourn for the “good health” of its members and guests.

The Senate has five octogenarians, and session was expected to run until 4 or 5 in the morning. But Scott Reif, a spokesman for the Senate Republicans, said there was simply too much clerical work to do complete in a final few hours.

“We were looking at a very long night because of the fact that SUNY 2020 and the omnibus bill are not in print yet,” Reif said. “The hope is we can get these outstanding bills into print, take them up as we planned to do tonight.”

A reporter interrupted, “And then, shift into gay marriage mode?”

“That’s correct,” Reif said.

A lack of agreement on the omnibus bill could be an ominous sign. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic Assembly majority have little leverage over Skelos’ agenda, and if a behind-the-scenes tussle over bringing gay marriage to the Senate floor is holding up other legislation, there may be no easy resolution to the impasse.

While lawmakers have taken to calling the rent-and-taxes bill the “Big Ugly,” because of all the unattractive compromises crammed into it, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver objected to the term.

“Big Ugly?” he asked. “Nothing’s ugly about what we’re doing.”

Sen. Liz Krueger agreed, calling it the “Big Awesome” – and crediting Cuomo with coining the term.

Senate Republicans are still divided on whether to bring same-sex marriage to the Senate floor for a vote, where their caucus is overwhelmingly opposed to it but passage seems likely.

Skelos said it would be the last issue his conference considered in private – after all other outstanding measures are resolved – but if it includes a package of amendments to protect religious concerns, it would need to once again face a vote in the Assembly. And Silver, an Orthodox Jew, must leave Albany hours before sunset to observe the Sabbath.

Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto showed no sign of worry.

“We’re still working through a couple of details, but we’ll be back tomorrow. As we have said, it’s one day at a time,” Vlasto said. “The most important thing is to get it done right, and not rush. There you go. Amen.”

(Source: nycapitolnews.com)