Dems Take NY Senate Majority

The Democratic Party has won a majority in the New York State Senate for the first time in 44 years. And not since 1935 have the Democrats controlled both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's mansion. However, the presumptive Senate Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith, faces a quartet of Democratic senators (all from NYC) who have so far refused to commit to supporting a Democratic majority leader. If Smith does assume the post, many expect that marriage equality in New York may at last be coming, and soon. So far, however, Smith has refused to give his definitive position on the issue.