ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state legislative leaders on Wednesday agreed conceptually on greater protections for religious groups in a gay marriage bill, but negotiations dragged on, making it highly unlikely there would final action before Thursday.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver tried to minimize their differences over the bill in an optimistic press availability Wednesday afternoon. But the religious protection additions hadn't been printed as of early Wednesday evening, meaning lawmakers didn't have anything to vote on.
Leaders in the Assembly said they were ready to bring their members back on Thursday to take up the vote. The Democrat-led chamber easily passed a gay marriage bill last week but would have to vote again because of the religious protection changes.
The stronger protection for religious organizations such as adoption agencies and marriage counselors who oppose gay marriage on principle is sought by undecided Republican senators who are key to the vote. Currently, the Senate appears to be one vote shy of making New York the sixth state where gay marriage is legal. It's viewed as a critical moment in the national gay rights movement.
Among Democrats in the Senate, 29 of 30 say they'll vote for gay marriage, meaning only three Republicans need to vote for it to pass in the 62-seat chamber. Two have already committed to voting for it, and at least two others are undecided.
Republican senators met behind closed doors Wednesday to take up other major issues including a property tax cap, New York City rent control and public college tuition increases.
Outside the Senate conference, members of several congregations sang hymns including "Amazing Grace" alternating with "God Bless America" in peaceful demonstrations by those for and against same-sex marriage. As proponents chanted and held signs calling for "Liberty and Justice for All," senators quietly left their closed-door conference late in the morning.
A famous chef and television actress were among the advocates promoting legalization on Wednesday. Restaurateur Mario Batali said he was at the Capitol representing his 3,000 employees, who understand they should be able to make their own decisions on marriage, not the government.
Audra McDonald, who appears on ABC's "Private Practice," said she has many gay and lesbian Broadway friends in committed relationships and thinks there would be "tons" of weddings.
Both said gay marriage would bring an estimated $400 million economic boost for the state and New York City.
Senate Republicans, who mostly oppose gay marriage, would have to allow the measure to the floor for a vote.
If it passes the Senate, the Assembly is ready to adopt any additional religious protections.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, said "the concepts are agreed" to in the additional religious exceptions, but "there's no final agreement on the exact language."
The comments came after an extensive closed-door meeting involving Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Silver and Skelos.
Cuomo has invested considerable energy and political capital in the effort to secure gay marriage rights.
The effort to legalize same-sex marriage largely stalled two years ago when the state Senate voted it down. Since then, the movement has failed in Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Advocates hope a "yes" vote in New York will jumpstart the effort.
Cuomo said he believed there would be a Senate vote and was "cautiously optimistic that it will pass."
"I believe the people are entitled to a vote and let the elected officials stand up and say `yea' or `nay,"' Cuomo said. "I believe that's how democracy works."
Two Republicans clearly undecided are Sen. Stephen Saland, of the Hudson Valley, one of the Senate's most veteran and respected members, and Sen. Mark Grisanti, of Buffalo, a freshman who is part of the GOP youth movement voted into office in the 2010 Republican tide nationwide.
Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage. Of them, all but Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., allow at least limited religious exemptions.
New York's legislative session had been scheduled to end Monday.
