N.Y. Republican Senators to Conference Marriage Equality Bill

[William769]

In a significant development for the marriage equality bill in New York, Senate majority leader Dean Skelos said Thursday that he would present the measure, including newly amended language for religious exemptions, to his conference to decide whether to schedule a vote.

The announcement, made by Skelos to reporters in the late morning, represented the first major sign this week of movement on the bill, which has been delayed in the Republican-controlled Senate since passing the Democratic-controlled Assembly last week. In addition to the traffic from other items at the end of the legislative session, Republican senators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been negotiating as-yet-unspecified language for more religious protections in the bill.

Capitol Confidential tweeted that Skelos said the conference would be “lengthy.” The meeting is expected sometime this afternoon, with late Thursday or even very early Friday morning as possible windows for a vote, should the Republican senators decide to bring the bill to the floor.

Whether Skelos and his 32 members, two of whom publicly support the marriage equality bill, decide to hold a vote represents the crucial question at this point. The leader, who personally opposes the measure, already vowed last year that he would at least conference the marriage equality bill, but he cautioned it would only come to a vote with the approval of his members.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/23/Republican_Senators_to_Conference_Marriage_Equality_Bill/

[RandySF]

1. This is bad news.

[William769]

2. In every cloud there is a silver lining.

[Doctor Hurt]

3. why?

[RandySF]

4. Only two Republicans support equity

If the conference votes as a block, they will not hold a vote.

[Doctor Hurt]

5. hmm

He didn't say he needed unanimous approval to put it to a vote, no? Supporting a vote on a measure is not equal to supporting the measure.

I assume I am reading that correctly.

[RandySF]

6. No, you're right

But I do not expect enough Republicans to vote to send it to the floor.

[Doctor Hurt]

7. well they are asshats

so there is that.

[GodlessBiker]

8. This is a way to take heat off of himself. He can say it was a majority decision ...

not to bring it up for a vote.

He's a prick.