Republicans in New York Now Stalling Marriage Equality Vote

[marmar]

Republicans in New York Now Stalling Marriage Equality Vote


According to the Albany Times-Union, Republican Senators in New York State are seriously considering the option of not bringing a bill creating marriage equality to the floor for a vote. They're concerned that the people of New York want the bill passed.

More to the point:

Sen. John DeFrancisco of Syracuse said he was urging cohesion among Republican members because a vote might hurt their razor-thin 32-30 majority...

"A team that operates cohesively with this particular governor ... has to make sure that the Republican team is here next year helping to run the state in a very productive way," DeFrancisco said. "That's why you have to keep the team together on all issues -- that's what we're trying to do."

Here's the situation: New York is one of the most solidly Democratic states in the nation. Through a excruciating process of Gerrymandering, Republicans have been able to maintain a majority in the State Senate.

I know that Upstate New York is generally more conservative than New York City, but that's not the whole story. Buffalo, Rochester, and to a lesser extent, Syracuse, are all rust-belt cities with decidedly liberal cores. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/618183/republicans_in_new_york_now_stalling_marriage_equality_vote/

[TheWraith]

1. Don't put anything by these ratfuckers.

Last time, in 2009, they gave private assurances to the Senate Dems (who then held an equally narrow majority) that some Republican members (by name) would indeed vote for the bill when it came up. (We knew we were going to lose some Democrats.)

The bill comes up, and all 30 Republicans along with 8 Democrats vote against it, defeating it 38 to 24.

[Wilms]

2. There's an incorrect statement in that.

Republicans have been able to maintain a majority in the State Senate.

Republicans GAINED the majority in the state senate as a result of the first state-wide election run on optical scanners. Despite the fact that the paltry 3% "audit" showed serious errors in the vote count, a judge refused a full recount and control of the senate was handed to the repubs who are now blocking the bill for creating marriage equality.

The trusted lever machines were supplanted by these computers with the blessing of too many democrats who would not read HAVA and think the whole thing through. They mindlessly repeat the "if there any questions we can count the paper ballots" mantra. Guess what? LOTS of questions and NO RECOUNT.

Thank you Bo Lipari and NYVV. You sold out the state.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x517387

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x517235

Even more in the election reform forum.

[HockeyMom]

3. I wrote to Skelos

Not just on behalf of my lesbian daughter, but for ME. I am FURIOUS that these relgious BIGOTS, Cardinal Whatshisname or Rabbi Whoever, are attempting to define MY marriage as a "sacred, holy, SACRAMENT of matrimony". How DARE they attempt to inflict RELIGION into MY marriage. We USED to have freedom of, and FROM, religion in this country. When did marriage become an RELIGIOUS SACRAMENT for ALL. Maybe the state should only issue Civil Unions for ALL, including straight couples, because marriage now has somehow morphed into something religious.

There will never be EQUALITY if there isn't any separation of church and state in this country any more. We may as well be living in Iran.