As adjournment nears for the New York State Legislature, there's an increasing focus on the State Senators who can make marriage equality a reality. The Albany Times-Union focuses on one, Senator Roy McDonald and identifies the other targets:
In recent months, Sen. Roy McDonald, a Saratoga Republican, hasn't taken either side -- at least not in public.We need them to wiggle our way. Remember, in the NY Senate, the roll is called alphabetically. Addabbo and Alesi will set the tone.
Neither Breslin nor Farley is mentioned much in the debate about same-sex marriage, which failed in the Senate in 2009 but is pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
McDonald, however, has been a focus of much lobbying as supporters and opponents alike are trying to woo him to their side.
McDonald is one of a handful of senators from both parties -- along with Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island; Greg Ball, R-Putnam County; Joe Addabbo and Shirley Huntley, D-Queens; and Jim Alesi, R-Monroe County -- who, for better or for worse, have left themselves wiggle room.
The other side knows who the undecideds are, of course:
"There'll be a small number of senators we'll continue to focus on, and he'll be one of them," said Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York State Catholic Conference, which opposes same-sex marriage. "Clearly Sen. McDonald is someone who is very important in this debate, and we are urging Catholics in his district to get in touch with him and voice their opposition."It goes without saying, if you live in the districts of these Senators -- or know anyone who lives in their districts -- call them today. Make those calls everyday until the vote.
We probably won't be getting whip lists for the New York State Senate from our advocacy groups. So many of the professional lobbyist types don't want to target people publicly because they'll get yelled at. Last year, SLDN named the names of the U.S. Senators who were undecided on DADT. SLDN got a lot of push back from the other groups. But, we won.
