Legal Agility

The New York State Senate is voting on same-sex marriage right now. I’m listening to the arguments streaming live from the senate floor, right now, in the background as I work. You can watch the live stream here.

I can’t really live blog this the way I’d like to, but I’ll do what I can and edit this post from time to time as we go along.

2:08pm
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer: “Why would it diminish my marriage? I have a very fine marriage!”
“This is for all of us. It’s not just for the lesbian and gay community, it is for all of us. It is a measure of our humanity.”
“I’ll be voting yes.”

2:17pm
Senator Malcolm A. Smith: “Everybody brings up religion. Everyone brings up, oh the church. This is not a challenge to the church… a challenge to the church is when someone walks in that room and they have no faith at all.”
“The world was going to cave in, Senator Adams, when they talked about civil right… the world was supposed to come to an end when they talked about granting me voting rights… and yet still, here we all are, we still go home… nothing has changed. What has changed, is a person – and this is what I’m asking you, a person’s – individual right to feel good about himself…”

2:19pm
Still on Senator Smith:
“Colleagues, we need to do this today… A debate is not a win. A win is 35 votes. Debate on the floor is wonderful democracy. I’m happy about it as well. But let’s… bring a bill to the floor that PASSES.”
“Thank you, Madame President, I will be voting yes.”

2:21pm
Senator Thomas K. Duane: “Thank you for letting me be angry. Rage. You let me have it. I let you have it, you let me have it. Thank you.”

2:27pm
Who is Senator Duane stalling for? He’s usually a more terse and powerful speaker. I have trouble believing that this rambling is accidental.

2:41pm
Senator Duane finally finished stalling, and the debate is closed.
A slow roll call has been called, so they can try to find more people before the end.

2:44pm
They’re voting NOW.

Senator Adams explains his vote, listing all the historic moments in civil rights for which he wasn’t around. “This. is. about. LOVE.”
“This is about two people being in love, and we have no right to prevent that.”

2:47pm
Senator Ruben Diaz explains his vote.
“‘When I come thrtough that door, I leave my Bible outside.’ Don’t please. Don’t. That’s the wrong statement.”
“President Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton… I am joining them.”
Recorded in the negative.

A lot of senators are voting without explanation.

2:52pm
Senator Parker voting yes. “I have never seen a legislature properly legislate morality.”

2:57pm
“Ayes 24, nays 38. The bill is lost.”