Gay activists have been buzzing this week that Governor Paterson will put Senator Tom Duane’s marriage-equality bill on the agenda for the special Senate session he’s calling next week. The body will meet on Wednesday to address budget issues and other matters left unresolved after the chaos of this summer’s coup. According to the Daily News, as had been speculated, he’ll put the gay-marriage initiative on the schedule so that it will finally be addressed. Of course, Paterson cannot force the body to vote on an issue, but he’s hoping that action on gay marriage, combined with solutions to the state’s budget problems, will have an effect on his dismal poll numbers — a Siena poll out yesterday showed that only 15 percent of voters would pick him if next year’s gubernatorial election took place now.
New Yorkers Still Unhappy with Paterson, Poll Shows [City Room/NYT]
Gov. Paterson pushes fat tax again to slim budget [NYDN]
