PR Newswire

Today, by a vote of 85 to 61, the New York State Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Governor Eliot Spitzer to extend the freedom to marry to same sex couples. Only two other legislative chambers - both Houses of the California legislature - have passed similar legislation in the past. The bill now moves to the State Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. The leader of the senate, Joseph L. Bruno (R/C- Rensselaer-Saratoga) has said he personally would not support the bill, and said it was "not a priority in the Senate." The session is slated to end on Thursday.