Feuding Senate Has NY State Seeing Double

But scandals in both states makes it a close race, notes Gail Collins

(NEWSER) - Illinois and New York both have such awful political cultures that it's tough to decide which state is the biggest loser, writes Gail Collins. Both states have governors who were forced out by scandals and whose successors are mired in controversy, although at least Eliot Spitzer isn't going to be appearing on Celebrity Apprentice, Collins writes in the New York Times. More»

GOP gets court order suspending move

(NEWSER) - In a desperate play to break the weeks-long deadlock in the New York State Senate, David Paterson last night named a lieutenant governor, who could preside over the hamstrung body and cast tie-breaking votes. But Republicans say they’ve obtained a court order suspending the beleaguered governor's appointment. Richard Ravitch, a 76-year-old Democratic lawyer and former head of the MTA, would also serve as a successor to Paterson if the governor couldn't serve, the New York Times reports. But the legality of the appointment is dubious. More»

(NEWSER) - Judges' decisions sometimes clarify things in the real world, but not so much in the New York state legislature. A state judge today dismissed a case from Democrats, who say that Republicans illegally took control of the state Senate last week, reports the Daily News. The judge told the two parties they'd have to work it out themselves, leaving the question of just who's in charge in limbo. More»

Crowds throng West Village, where gay rights movement was born

(NEWSER) - After the showdown in Albany legalized gay marriage, euphoric crowds last night thronged the streets of New York City's West Village, where the gay rights movement was born some four decades ago. “It’s where it all began,” said one reveler outside the Stonewall Inn. The New York Times notes that the bill's passage coincides with Gay Pride weekend, and crowds assembled for a scheduled drag parade last night were buoyed by those looking to witness and celebrate history. “I really can’t really describe what this feels like, but it is one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life," said City Council speaker Christine Quinn, the city's highest-ranked openly gay official. More»

It will become the sixth and largest state to legalize same-sex weddings

(NEWSER) - The gay rights movement just scored a huge victory: Same-sex marriage will soon be legal in New York state. The state Senate approved the measure tonight after a Republican legislator came forward to support it as the crucial 32nd vote. “I know my vote is a vote of conscience,” Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie told fellow lawmakers. “I am at peace with my vote. It was a struggle. It was an extraordinary deliberation.” Gay couples in the Senate gallery wept as he spoke, notes AP . The final tally ended up 33-29, with four Republicans in favor. More»