New York

Michael Bloomberg

Bloomberg: The NYPD Is 'My Own Army'

David Taintor | November 30, 2011, 3:08PM

Being mayor of New York is awesome, Michael Bloomberg said Tuesday during a speech at MIT.

"I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world," Bloomberg said, according to the New York Observer. "I have my own State Department, much to Foggy Bottom's annoyance. We have the United Nations in New York, and so we have an entree into the diplomatic world that Washington does not have."

Andrew Cuomo

New York Judge OKs Lawsuit To Repeal Marriage Equality Law

Jillian Rayfield | November 30, 2011, 5:52AM

A state Supreme Court judge in New York will allow a lawsuit against the state's marriage equality law to move forward, citing concerns about whether officials broke the state's open meetings law in the lead-up to the vote last June.

Four Republicans Who Supported NY Gay Marriage Getting A Big Fundraiser

Jillian Rayfield | October 13, 2011, 1:42PM

The four Republican lawmakers in New York who supported the gay marriage law are getting a big cash infusion Thursday night, with a fundraiser in Manhattan that is expected to raise $1.25 million.

Eric Schneiderman

New York AG Asks Court To Throw Out Anti-Gay Marriage Suit

Jillian Rayfield | September 19, 2011, 1:03PM

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has asked a state court to toss a lawsuit challenging New York's marriage equality law, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo back in June.

Nan Hayworth

GOP Freshman Under Fire For Demanding Offsets For Disaster Relief In Her Own District

Brian Beutler | September 1, 2011, 9:39AM

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY)

This isn't the sort of headline and lead paragraph you want to read in the local paper if you're a freshman House member in a marginal district: "Hayworth seeking to withhold disaster money unless it is offset by budget cuts: Only days after a record-setting storm destroyed her district, Rep. Nan Hayworth and her House colleagues threatened to withhold disaster money if lawmakers don't cut additional spending from the federal budget."

But that's exactly what the New York freshman woke up to this morning after saying she would only vote to replenish FEMA's disaster relief fund if the money is offset with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget, according to the paper. Her constituents, and officials in her district, don't want to hear about conditions -- even Republicans.

Gay Marriage

New York Group Files Suit To Nullify Gay Marriages

Jillian Rayfield | July 25, 2011, 5:06PM

The anti-gay marriage group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms filed suit Monday to overturn New York's marriage equality law, claiming that in the process of enacting the law, "constitutional liberties were violated."

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Topics: Gay Marriage, New York

Martin O'Malley

Martin O'Malley Preps New, More Aggressive Push For Gay Marriage In Maryland

Brian Beutler | July 20, 2011, 1:19PM

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD)

At the end of this week, or the beginning of the next, Gov. Martin O'Malley -- the chair of the Democratic Governor's Association -- is preparing a bold push for gay marriage rights in Maryland.

In a sit-down interview with TPM at DGA headquarters in downtown Washington, DC, O'Malley explained what's changed since the last time Maryland tried to enact marriage equality, and why he plans to be at the front of the issue this time around.

"There is a broad coalition of people coming together -- broader than we had in the last session," O'Malley said. "And this coalition is encouraged by the fact that our neighbors in New York found a way to protect religious freedom and the quality of marital rights at the same time.... Sometimes in the history of our Republic, fundamental rights appear to eclipse each other for a time, and this is one of those times, and we need to sort it out."

Andrew Cuomo

Democrat or Republican, Cutting Back on State Workers Becoming Popular Move for States

Michael R. Corjulo | July 20, 2011, 6:00AM

Climbing out of "The Great Recession", many state governments found themselves faced with gaping budget shortfalls. A popular solution has been downsizing government work forces and reducing the power of public sector unions.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker became a mascot for the cause earlier this year when he began a push to take away collective bargaining rights from public workers in his state, a step so drastic that the state senate Democrats found it necessary to flee to Illinois to prevent a vote on the matter (which eventually became law anyway). Republican governors John Kasich (OH), Chris Christie (NJ), and Rick Scott (FL) all stirred up controversy for looking for similar places to scale back.

But while the most publicized and most agressive anti-union fights have been in states with newly elected Republican governors, unions are being pinched in more traditionally friendly democratic territory as well.

Andrew Cuomo

New York, I Love You: Cuomo Continues To Roll

Kyle Leighton | July 14, 2011, 11:40AM

New Yorkers have never been accused of having the sunniest outlook on politics in their state. But that was before Andrew Cuomo became their governor.

Cuomo continues to be held in very high esteem, notching a 71% favorability rating in the latest poll from Siena College, with only 21% of New York voters having an unfavorable view of him. Despite inheriting a nine billion dollar deficit, the TPM Poll Average of Cuomo's favorability remains at a high 75.9%, having scored victories with a budget deal that cut spending while not raising income tax rates and pushing through a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state.

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Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Gay Marriage, New York, Polls

Barack Obama

Obama Dodges On Personal View Of Gay Marriage: 'Not Going To Make News On That Today'

Jillian Rayfield | June 29, 2011, 1:26PM

In his Wednesday press conference, President Obama dodged a question about whether he personally supports same-sex marriage: "I'm not going to make news on that today -- good try though."

Obama also wouldn't say whether he thinks marriage is a civil right, instead characterizing it as a state level issue: "What you saw was the people of New York having a debate, talking through these issues. It was contentious, it was emotional, but ultimately they made a decision to recognize civil marriages. And I think that's exactly how things should work."

New York

So You've Passed Gay Marriage In New York -- Now What?

Jillian Rayfield | June 29, 2011, 5:50AM

Gay rights supporters in New York are riding high after the success of the marriage equality law, and are optimistically talking up efforts to advance gay rights in other states. But it might not be so easy.

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Topics: Human Rights Campaign, New York

New York

New York State Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill

Jillian Rayfield | June 24, 2011, 10:34PM

The New York state Senate has approved the marriage equality bill by a vote of 33-29.

An amendment to the bill, which carved out exemptions for religious groups, passed by a vote of 36-26.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: NYC Celebrates After Marriage Equality Passes The State Senate]

Gay Marriage

New York State Senate Voting On Marriage Equality Friday Night

Jillian Rayfield | June 24, 2011, 5:59PM

New York's marriage equality bill will come up for a vote in the state Senate Friday night, after lawmakers reached a deal on the final language of the bill earlier in the day.

George Pataki

George Pataki: 'I'll Certainly Feel Compelled To Run' If No Strong Candidate Emerges

Jillian Rayfield | June 23, 2011, 11:55AM

Former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) may be getting closer to a run for president in 2012, saying Wednesday that if no candidate with a strong deficit-reduction plan emerges -- one who actually has a shot at beating President Obama -- then "I'll certainly feel compelled to take a look."

New York

Still No Deal In New York's Fight Over Marriage Equality

Jillian Rayfield | June 23, 2011, 6:55AM

Leaders of the New York legislature have not yet reached a deal on the final language of the state's marriage equality bill, nor has there been a decision about bringing the legislation up for a vote.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) said today that though there are some amendments to the bill that address the Republicans' concerns over religious exemptions, "there's no final agreement on exact language."

James Alesi

Pro-Gay Marriage NY Lawmaker: 'I'm A Republican -- I Was Born That Way'

Jillian Rayfield | June 21, 2011, 3:34PM

State Sen. James Alesi (R-NY)

Though no deal has been reached yet in the fight over the New York marriage equality bill, there's one Republican state Senator who's dropped his poker face.

James Alesi told a crowd in Albany Tuesday that he's supporting the bill, adding: "I'm a Republican -- I was born that way."

New York

New York Same Sex Marriage Vote Likely Delayed

Jillian Rayfield | June 20, 2011, 3:25PM

The New York state Senate will likely push the vote on marriage equality to later this week, as Republicans continue to negotiate with supporters of the bill over its language.

Andrew Cuomo

Down To The Wire On Marriage Equality In New York

Jillian Rayfield | June 20, 2011, 10:18AM

The New York legislature entered its final day of the session Monday, with lawmakers and gay rights advocates continuing to pursue a deal to pass marriage equality legislation in the state Senate.

The New York Post reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) are closing in on a deal to get the legislation passed. The Senate Republicans had still not decided whether to bring the legislation up for a vote at the end of last week, as some in the caucus pushed for more specific exemptions for religious groups.

Andrew Cuomo

Behind Scenes, NY Advocacy Groups Fight For Same-Sex Marriage

Michael R. Corjulo | June 17, 2011, 1:37PM

The fate of a much-anticipated bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York remains uncertain, with the state Senate having yet to act on the measure as of early Friday afternoon.

No matter the result, a vote will mark the end of months of political positioning by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and legislative leaders, who have been working to secure enough support to pass the legislation.

The marriage-equality bill has considerably more momentum on its side than it did in 2009, when it passed the Assembly but fell in the Senate by a vote of 38 to 24.

Same Sex Marriage

Still No Vote Set For Same-Sex Marriage In New York Senate

Eric Lach | June 17, 2011, 9:16AM

New York State Senate Republicans have still not said whether they will bring a bill legalizing same-sex marriage to a floor vote, The Albany Times Union reports. The New York Assembly passed the bill on Wednesday, setting expectations for the Senate to take it up this week.

New York

New York's Marriage Equality Bill Passes The State Assembly

Jillian Rayfield | June 15, 2011, 9:33PM

The New York Assembly passed the state's marriage equality bill Wednesday by a vote of 80-63, paving the way for it to be taken up in the state Senate later this week.

Gay Marriage

Second NY Republican Says He'll Back Gay Marriage Bill

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 5:14PM

Sen. Roy J. McDonald (R-NY)

Republican state Sen. Roy McDonald announced Tuesday that he'll back New York's marriage equality bill when it comes up in the Senate this week.

"I'm trying to do the right thing," McDonald said, Capitol Confidential reports. "Rather than wait I worked with the governor. ... I'm not out to alienate anybody. This is driven by compassion."

He added that he thinks the vote will be on Friday.

Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo Sends NY Gay Marriage Bill To State Legislature

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 3:58PM

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) sent New York's gay marriage bill to the state legislature Tuesday, effectively kicking the state's battle over marriage equality into high gear in the last week of the legislative session.

Capital Tonight reports that it will be ready for a vote in about three days.

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Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Gay Marriage, New York

Gay Marriage

New Yorkers Rally Against -- And For -- Gay Marriage At City Hall

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 2:31PM

A group of gay marriage opponents gathered Tuesday at New York's City Hall to rally against Mayor Bloomberg's support for marriage equality, as a bill to legalize same-sex marriage gains momentum in the state legislature this week.

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Topics: Gay Marriage, New York

Andrew Cuomo

Report: Three New York Dems Say They Will Back Gay Marriage

Jillian Rayfield | June 13, 2011, 2:48PM

Three key New York Democrats in the state Senate reportedly said Monday that they will support marriage equality legislation, an important reversal for Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is pushing to bring the measure up for a vote by the end of the week.

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Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Gay Marriage, New York

Gay Marriage

Poll Shows Most NYers Support Gay Marriage -- Push To Legalize Could Come Down To Eight State Sens.

Jillian Rayfield | June 3, 2011, 8:55AM

Polls show the majority of New Yorkers have made up their minds that the state should legalize gay marriage, but ultimately the fight will likely come down to eight state Senators who are still undecided.

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Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Gay Marriage, New York

New York

NY GOPers Push Bill To Void Out Of State Same Sex Marriages

Jillian Rayfield | May 20, 2011, 1:38PM

As New York Democrats prep for a fight to legalize gay marriage in the state, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would invalidate any same sex marriages legally performed by other states.

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Topics: Gay Marriage, New York