New York Gay Marriage Bill: Enough Votes to Pass
[UPDATE: New York Senate Votes 33-29 to Pass Gay Marriage Bill]
Mike Long, the chairman of the New York Conservative Party, said late Friday afternoon that the gay marriage bill has at least 32 votes to pass the Senate.
Long, who has vowed to withdraw nominations from any Republican senator that votes in favor of the New York gay marriage bill, told The Weekly Standard that he believes the bill will pass the Senate "by the end of the night."
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His comments come just as New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos confirmed Friday that the same-sex marriage bill will come to the floor for an up or down vote later tonight.
The bill was thought to have only 31 committed votes, one vote shy of being passed in the Senate. In the past several days, legislators have said there enough votes to pass the bill but would not comment on who the 32nd vote is.
"I'm sorry to say that the bill's going to pass," Long told the Standard a few minutes before 6 p.m.
"I know they've got the 32nd vote, and I think they've muscled two more people."
"Hopefully all of that blows up," Long said. "I don't see that happening."
No new Republican senators have publicly come out to support the same-sex marriage bill.
In recent days, two of the handful of undecided Republican senators confirmed they will vote "no" on the bill.
Sen. Andrew Lanza of Staten Island released a statement Friday afternoon saying he will vote against the bill.
Sen. Greg Ball of Patterson said Thursday he would vote "no" on same-sex marriage.
Sen. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo remained undecided as of late Friday afternoon, according to Capitol Tonight via Twitter.
Sen. Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie is also undecided, saying, "I'm getting there," according to New York Times Albany Bureau Chief Danny Hakim via Twitter.
The New York Senate has not given a time as to when the gay marriage vote will take place. The Senate will go through four bills on its agenda and hold a Rules Committee meeting before a vote on same-sex marriage will take place later tonight.
Saland's vote during the Rules Committee meeting could indicate how he may vote when the gay marriage bill hits the floor.
In the hours counting down to the vote, opponents of gay marriage like National Organization of Marriage have urged its constituents to make a last-minute push against the bill by continuing to call senators and telling them to vote "no."
On the Web:Watch the New York Senate vote live on the gay marriage bill.
