By Joe Anuta
The push for a gay marriage equality bill in Albany has moved behind closed doors as Gov. Andrew Cuomo attempts to persuade state Senate Republicans to sign off on the seminal legislation by writing in protections for religious organizations.
According to Albany insiders, as of press time Tuesday the governor was still attempting to capture the 32nd and final vote needed to pass the legislation, but little progress was visible.
In fact, those who support and those who oppose the bills seem to be optimistic about the outcome, the source said, since no one has been mentioned as a candidate for the final and definitive vote.
That vote would need to come from a Republican, since every Democrat in the Senate except Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) has voiced his or her approval.
Last week, Sens. Roy McDonald (R-Troy) and James Alesi (R-Fairport) threw their support behind the bill from across the aisle.
But in order to appease others in the Republican conference, the governor has been negotiating language in the bill that would provide certain exemptions for religious organizations, according to Scott Reif, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
“If and when those changes occur and they are in bill form, we would conference with members again,” Reif said.
Skelos, who is opposed to the bill, said if his fellow Republicans want to bring it to the floor, he would oblige.
The exemptions would protect religious organizations from being legally obligated to perform certain ceremonies that run contrary to their dogma.
For example, Catholic churches have expressed concern that if priests refuse to perform gay marriage ceremonies, then the church could be sued.
The marriage equality bill is one of several issues that has dragged the current legislative session past its official Monday end date. And the bill is tied up in partisan debate with other high-profile issues like rent regulation laws and tax caps that will not be left for the summer, according to sources in Albany.
Last year, the session was extended until August after an agreement on a budget could not be reached.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
