Same-sex marriage is first on the Governors proclamation that calls tomorrow’s session. Paterson formally called for the Senate to consider a billproviding same-sex couples the same opportunity to enter into civil marriages as opposite-sex couples.

The Senate chamber was the site of dueling sessions on Tuesday as the Democrats, who had achieved clear majority control of the Senate this past January, took up the Governors agenda of legislation during a 3 p.m. special session that had been called by the Governor.

The Republicans began their own version of the session at 2 p.m., an hour earlier than the Governors orders. The Democrats gaveled open their session at the 3 p.m. time designated by the Governor. Both the Democrats and the Republican members of the Senate conducted business while talking over each other. The Democratic Senate session approved the bills that the Governor had called upon them to consider at the Tuesday session.

A vote on same-sex marriage legislation could cause Democrats to see further erosion in of their 31 member conference. Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., an pentecostal minister, has pledged a rebellion if gay marriage comes to the floor of the Senate.

Diaz told New York Daily News reporter Glenn Blain "Tomorrow we will have a good time," Diaz Sr. told the DN's Glenn Blain. "Maybe I'm not upset. Maybe I solve the whole the problem tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow we come to an agreement and decide who's really in control."

The Governor's proclaimation for the extraordinary session calls for the Senate to consider same-sex marriage legislation along with other controversial bills includes a bill that authorizes the fifth phase of construction projects in the City of Buffalo by the Joint School Construction Board.

Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle is a statement offered "The New York State Senate now has the chance to do what the Assembly has done twice, and what a majority of New Yorkers support and that is to vote to allow same-sex couples access to marriage and the 1324 rights and protections that come with a New York State civil marriage license."

"As we have seen from the growing level of support on this issue, this is not a partisan matter. It is a matter of equal treatment under the law."

The results of a poll of New York voters out this week, indicates that more support same-sex marriage than oppose. The Quinnipiac University poll put support of same-sex marriage by New York State voters 51% support - 41% opposed. —Tim Moran