Coup in New York State Senate Effectively Ends Same-Sex “Marriage” Bill

LifeSite ^ | June 8, 2009 | Peter J. Smith

[NYer]

ALBANY, New York, June 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a dramatic turn of events, key defections from the Democratic Party in New York have placed control of the state senate effectively back in Republican control, likely putting to an end the former Democratic leadership’s bid to legalize same-sex “marriage.”

Two Democratic state senators, Hiram Monserrate of Queens and Pedro Espada of the Bronx, voted with Republicans Monday afternoon to strip control of the Senate away from Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), who had been engaged in building a majority behind closed doors to legalize same-sex “marriage” before the end of the legislative session on June 22.

Around 3 p.m. Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton) shouted for a roll-call vote before the end of the day’s session demanding a leadership change in the Senate. Espada and Monserrate, both described by North Country Public Radio as “socially conservative” Democrats unhappy with Smith’s leadership, voted along with the GOP, making the margin 32-30.

Just after the final tally, the lights went out in the senate chambers and the in-house television went black. Five minutes later, the power was restored and revealed the deposed Democratic leadership in the Senate replaced by its new authorities.

The coup resulted in a power-sharing arrangement between the two Democrats and the GOP. Espada has now been elevated to President of the Senate, as reported by the Albany Times-Union. Usually, the Majority Leader takes control of the Senate as its president, but in the arrangement reached between Espada, Monserrate, and the GOP senate leadership, Espada will become president and GOP Majority Leader Sen. Dean Skelos of Long Island will take up duties as vice-president of the senate.

Espada stated that Smith’s leadership of the Senate had put the state into a “quagmire” and could no longer go on, and needed to be replaced by “reform-minded” Democrats. 

As all the leadership positions will be changed in the Senate, it makes it highly unlikely the same-sex “marriage” bill passed by the Assembly in May will come to a vote before the end of the June 22 legislative deadline, as the bill is not a priority for Republicans and a number of the more socially conservative Senate Democrats.

A recent Siena poll also showed that citizens of New York were deeply divided 46 – 46 percent on the issue of same-sex “marriage.”

[xcamel]

Bingo.
...and about damned time.

[NYer]

Planned months in advance, today Catholics and others will gather at the State Capitol to rally for Traditional Marriage. This "coup" is not coincidence! Keep us all in your prayers!

---

2009 NYS Bishops Statement on Same Sex Marriage
Posted: 6/1/2009

Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New York State on Marriage

We face today the prospect of a law in New York which would radically change the timeless institution of marriage. As pastors of citizens from every corner of our great state, we stand unified in our strong opposition to such a drastic measure.

Throughout history, different cultures have had different customs regarding marriage. But the one constant has been the conviction that marriage is the union of a man and a woman in an enduring bond, ordered for the procreation and stable rearing of children. Regrettably, the state Assembly has voted to redefine what nature and our common heritage long ago defined for us. We fervently pray that members of the state Senate will stand firm in opposition to this ill-advised legislation, and we call on Catholics and all New Yorkers to contact their Senators to make their voices heard.

Our opposition to this bill is based not only on Catholic teaching regarding human sexuality and the Sacrament of Marriage. Just as importantly, it is based on reason, sound public policy, and plain common sense, as we stated in our 2008 pastoral statement on same-sex “marriage.” (The statement can be found here) To briefly reiterate, the state has a compelling legal interest in promoting marriage between men and women in order to create stable families and provide for the safety, health and well being of children. The state has no such compelling legal interest in recognizing a relationship between two people of the same sex.

If there are injustices against those in relationships other than marriage, those injustices can certainly be reformed and corrected in a way other than by drastically redefining marriage.

We close with a final point from our 2008 statement:

“(W)e want to make absolutely clear that our firm beliefs about marriage … must not be misconstrued to be in any way a condemnation of homosexual people or an attack on their human dignity. Our Church teaches, and we affirm, that we must treat our homosexual sisters and brothers with dignity and love, as we would all God’s children. Indeed the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns that any form of prejudice or hatred – “every sign of unjust discrimination” – against homosexual people should be avoided. (CCC 2358)

+Timothy M. Dolan

Archbishop of New York

 

+Howard J. Hubbard

Bishop of Albany

 

+Nicholas DiMarzio

Bishop of Brooklyn

 

+Edward U. Kmiec

Bishop of Buffalo

 

Rev. Terry R. LaValley

Diocesan Administrator of Ogdensburg

 

+ Matthew H. Clark

Bishop of Rochester

 

+William F. Murphy

Bishop of Rockville Centre

 

+Robert J. Cunningham

   Bishop of Syracuse

 

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[Sister_T]

Gee ... “coup”, huh? What was it called when Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords left the GOP and in effect, rendered control to the Democrats in Congress?

[Nextrush]

The New York Republicans are not great conservatives but some things like “gay marriage” create opportunities like this for the GOP to capitalize on.

The Democrats who defected said “enough” and switched sides in exchange for power granted to them by the GOP leadership.

Its a political deal, but it reflects the lines being drawn by the push of the gay lobby.

In the spirit of Marx, the Left creates conflict that splits up parties and forces individuals to take sides.

It makes one realize though that the Left does not stop and this “marriage” thing will be pushed in all venues like courts and legislatures until they get their way.

[Right Cal Gal]

When Jeffords did it, and when that creep Specter gave the Dems a filibuster proof majority, the Dems were all over the idea of principle. Of course, this will be all about homophobia, etc.

But this is oh, so satisfying. Wonder if some Dems in the U.S. Senate will be eyeing this as a possible strategy for themselves - especially since GOP is polling higher on the issues of National Security and the Economy. Nothing would please me more.

Of course, watching Arlen being humiliated by the Dems is enjoyable to watch as well.

[N3WBI3]

Its nice to see the GOP start to fight!

First Pawlenty in Minnesota in what has to be the best political beat down I have ever seen

Now the NY GOP changes the look of the senate

Starting to Build Momentum, now the GOP has to start capitalizing on these victories..

[NYer]

Its a political deal, but it reflects the lines being drawn by the push of the gay lobby.

That's an excellent observation. Catering to the fringe may prove just enough to push moderate dems into the republican camps. It is consoling to notice that Europe has begun to switch to the right. Let's pray it's not too late for us.

[NYer]

Ping!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Good News. I hope this sticks.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Timothy M. Dolan Archbishop of New York

My, do we miss Abp Dolan in Milwaukee.

[cricket]

Hopefully, it is a smack down of Dem corruption as well. Of course, an unhappy Governor Patterson offers what should be, Gov. David Paterson, who is noticeably furious, addressed the coup at an evening news conference.

"[. . .]I came here today to stand up for everyone in this state who still believes in a democracy -- that there are perimeters in which we govern, that Albany can be more than the dysfunctional wreck it has become over the years. And I don't care if the only one standing, but someone has got to stand up and say that this is wrong. his own medicine:

Not so incredibly; Patterson fails to note the obvious. Someone just did 'stand up'. . .

[Frantzie]

Time to go to Notre Dame with torches and pitch forks.

[Tailback]

First Pawlenty in Minnesota in what has to be the best political beat down I have ever seen

What did Pawlenty do? I missed it.

[The Pack Knight]

Seriously, now would be a good time. Unfortunately, the GOP is effectively leaderless at the national level.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Republicans in NY are like the Democrats of the 40’s...
Democrats in NY are socialists...

[MrB]

That was “returning government to its rightful owners”.

[theDentist]

Harrrr... we be takin' o'er the Senate!

[Vaquero]

“[. . .]I came here today to stand up for everyone in this state who still believes in a democracy — that there are perimeters in which we govern, that Albany can be more than the dysfunctional wreck it has become over the years. And I don't care if the only one standing, but someone has got to stand up and say that this is wrong. his own medicine:

did Paterson make such a statement when neighboring state PA, senior US senator migrated from RINO to Dhimmi??????

did anyone in the Senate make such a statement????

No...Jumping ship by Republican=Good Jumping ship by Dhimmicrat=BAD!

the whole political reality in America is corrupted by the Marxist in politics and the MSM.

[pollywog]

....besides God, who can we send email thanks to????