Coup in NY Senate may end bid to legalize gay, so-called, marriage

This is the same story, but presented from different sources, including their respective titles. This one is interesting, folks. I'm sure it is likely to result in some legal battles too..

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

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.

continue reading at LSN...

Here is Reuters on the same issue, but it sounds less certain how things will end: Coup attempt leaves NY state Senate in disarray

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state Senate Republicans and two rogue Democrats said they wrested control of the Senate from the Democratic leadership on Monday in an unresolved dispute that had both sides claiming victory.

The chaos threatened to throw a range of pending bills into disarray, including pension reform, New York City's mayoral control of the schools, and gay marriage.

A gay marriage bill has passed the Democrat-led Assembly, but faces a more difficult vote in the Senate regardless of which party is in charge and in spite of Democratic Governor David Paterson's strong support.

The Republicans were attempting to regain control of the state Senate, a last bastion of GOP power in the state of New York that fell into Democratic hands for the first time in decades after the November 2008 elections.

It was part of a larger electoral trend in which the Republicans lost ground in the Northeastern United States in particular.

The drama unfolded as a shouting match erupted on the Senate floor with the Democrats walking out and shutting off the lights and video cameras while the Republicans attempted to replace Democratic Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

Republicans said a motion to replace Smith won by a vote of 32 to 30, with two Democrats voting with all 30 Republicans to name Republican Senator Dean Skelos to the post.

Here's Associated Press: GOP, 2 Dems flip power balance in NY senate

Sen. Thomas Libous, a Binghamton Republican, secured a vote to put Sen. George Winner of Elmira in charge of the proceedings after Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin of Albany left the chamber with the other Democrats. Minutes later, Espada and Skelos were elected to their new leadership posts by 32-0 votes with Espada and Monserrate the only Democrats in the chamber.

"This is historic," Libous said in an interview on the floor. "There is going to be reform. You are going to see things that you've never seen in Albany."

Democratic leader Malcolm Smith of Queens, who was elected majority leader in January, referred to the drama as "scurrilous action" by Republicans.

"There was an illegal vote taken," Smith said. "Let me be very clear — very clear — the Senate majority is in Democratic hands." He said he won't reconvene the session until the coalition drops its challenge to the leadership.

The coalition immediately approved a thick new list of rules for governing the chamber. It adjourned until Wednesday, when it plans to return to run the Senate.

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