The Senate was moving through the budget bills when Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, put a stop to proceedings by threatening to vote against S6604B, the health and mental hygiene bill. Earlier today, Diaz, a social conservative, had threatened to hold back his vote because of a provision in a tax law budget bill which would have expanded recognition of out-of-state gay marriage, and I think got a commitment to have that removed. (The Democrats need the votes of all 32 members, including Diaz, in the face of unanimous Republican opposition to the budget bills.) But I don't think it's a gay rights issue that has got Diaz upset now. Rather, I understand he is objecting to cuts that would affect programs for the elderly.
Diaz came back into the chamber after conferring with Senate leadership and voted for the bill, which like the prior education funding bill passed 32-29 (the missing Republican vote is the ailing Sen. Thomas Morahan). Diaz just now held a news conference outside the chamber, in which he said he had received assurances that a $5 million cut will be restored. The money is statewide funding falling under the jurisdiction of the Aging Committee, which he chairs.
I now hear that the gay marriage language may not be so easy to remove. If the bill (S6610B) passes tomorrow, it would require a chapter amendment to remove the language, an amendment that likely would be vetoed by Gov. Paterson.
Maybe Diaz will support my proposal to ban Hispanics from getting married... to benefit the elderly, of course.
Posted by: Brian | June 28, 2010 at 06:37 PM