>> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," LAWMAKERS LEAVE ALBANY.

THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN NEW YORK IS OVER.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT PASSED AND WHAT DIDN'T.

OUR OWN DARRELL CAMP AND KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC STATE RADIO JOIN US WITH DETAIL AND ANALYSIS.

AND LATER, IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE NEW YORK LEGALIZED SAME SEX MARRIAGE WE'LL SPEAK WITH ASSEMBLMEMBER DANNY O'DONNELL WHO LED THE CHARGE.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

IN ALBANY, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE BIG UGLY.

WE GET ONE IN MARCH AND SOMETIMES WE GET ONE IN JUNE.

A BIG UGLY IS A HUGE BILL THAT LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE AND PASS THAT INCLUDES ALL THE MAJOR POLICY ITEMS THEY'VE NEGOTIATED FOR WEEKS.

IT'S ALL THE IMPORTANT STUFF THAT YOU'D SEE IN THE NEWS, AND THAT WAY, THEY CAN MAKE ALL OF THOSE LAWS IN JUST ONE HUGE BILL.

BUT THIS YEAR WAS DIFFERENT.

LAWMAKERS ENDED THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS WEEK BY PASSING SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ITEMS ALL INTRODUCED, DEBATED, AND PASSED SEPARATELY.

AND WHILE ADVOCATES HAD HOPED THAT DEMOCRATS COULD DELIVER ON A RANGE OF NEW POLICY MEASURES, NOT EVERYTHING MADE THE CUT.

TAKE A LOOK.

AT THE START OF THE WEEK, NO ONE KNEW WHAT STATE LAWMAKERS WERE GOING TO DO IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT WASN'T FOR LACK OF IDEAS.

FROM PAROLE REFORM TO GUN CRIME, LAWMAKERS HAD PLENTY TO CONSIDER.

AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT.

LIKE A PAIR OF ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE TAXED CARBON EMISSIONS.

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAIR TODD KAMINSKY SAID THEY'RE STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO TRANSITION TO CLEANER ENERGY WITHOUT HURTING CONSUMERS.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY TO SOMEBODY TO SAY HEY, GET AN EV, AND IF THEIR ANSWER IS, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT OR I CAN'T GET A CHARGING STATION IN THEIR HOME AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM ANSWERS TO GET THERE.

I BELIEVE WE'RE CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

TO IMPOSE THE SERIOUS COSTS THAT WOULD COME WITH THAT WITHOUT GIVING PEOPLE AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES IS AN ISSUE.

>> A SERIES OF OTHER MEASURES WERE APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS.

INCLUDING LEGISLATION TARGETED AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S THE LESS IS MORE PAROLE BILL.

THAT MAKES IT SO TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS OF PAROLE WON'T SEND SOMEONE BACK TO PRISON.

A TECHNICAL VIOLATION IS SOMETHING LIKE BEING LATE TO AN APPOINTMENT.

MORE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS, LIKE A NEW CRIMINAL CHARGE OR VIOLATING PAROLE ON PURPOSE, WOULD PROMPT A HEARING TO DECIDE IF SOMEONE SHOULD GO BACK BEHIND BARS AND THE BILL'S SPONSORS SAY THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> IT SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN AND PENALIZE YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH AND YOU WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL AT EVERY STEP.

>> THAT BILL WAS OPPOSED BY REPUBLICANS WHO VIEW IT AS PART OF A CONTINUED EFFORT BY DEMOCRATS TO SHIFT NEW YORK'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FAVOR OF THE ACCUSED AND AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER ROB ORTT.

>> CRIME IS, YOU KNOW, ON THE RISE IN EVERY MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITY IN THE STATE, ACROSS THE STATE, AND THEY'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE.

>> TWO OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS CALLED ELDER PAROLE AND FAIR AND TIMELY PAROLE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS THIS YEAR.

THOSE WOULD HAVE GRANTED MORE PAROLE OPPORTUNITIES TO OLDER INDIVIDUALS AND MADE IT HARDER TO DENY PAROLE FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE.

ADVOCATES EVEN SLEPT OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION TO GET ATTENTION FROM LAWMAKERS.

ANTHONY DIXON IS A SUPPORTER OF THE BILLS.

>> WE WANT TO SEE THIS CHAPTER CLOSED WHERE WE STOP PUNISHING PEOPLE NEEDLESSLY WHO ARE NO LONGER A RISK OF COMMITTING A CRIME AFTER RELEASE.

>> BUT LAWMAKERS WERE ABLE TO STRIKE DEALS ON OTHER MEASURES, LIKE NEW GUN LAWS.

DEMOCRATS APPROVED THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO OWN A GUN IN NEW YORK THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER.

THAT'S TO CUT DOWN ON SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS, WHICH ARE ASSEMBLED PART BY PART AND USUALLY UNTRACEABLE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER LINDA ROSENTHAL IS A DEMOCRAT FROM MANHATTAN.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS CONVEYED THAT THEY NEED ALL GUNS TO BE TRACEABLE AND SERIALIZED.

WHEN PEOPLE BUILD GHOST GUNS FROM KITS AT HOME, THEY CREATE A FIREARM THAT CANNOT BE TRACED.

>> AND NEW YORKERS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO SUE GUN MANUFACTURERS OVER INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT ALLOWS LAWSUITS WHEN GUN VIOLENCE CREATES A PUBLIC NUISANCE WHICH IS A LEGAL TERM.

THAT WAS SPONSORED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAT FAHY, A DEMOCRAT FROM ALBANY.

>> IT'S GONNA BE A HIGH THRESHOLD TO BRING THESE TYPES OF CASES.

HOWEVER, THIS COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER WITH STOPPING THAT FLOW THAT WE KNOW IS HITTING OUR STREETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> AND WHILE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES DIDN'T GET SOME OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS THEY WERE HOPING FOR THIS YEAR, DEMOCRATS DID COALESCE AROUND A HANDFUL OF RELATED MEASURES.

ONE LOWERS THE AMOUNT OF LEAD ALLOWED AT DRINKING WATER AT SCHOOLS.

THAT'S FROM HEALTH CHAIR GUSTAVO RIVERA.

>> MAKING SURE WE TEST IT AND TEST IT OFTEN IS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY THE PLACES IT NEEDS TO BE REMEDIATED.

>> ANOTHER BILL REQUIRES WATER UTILITIES TO TEST FOR A SERIES OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS.

SMALLER UTILITIES IN NEW YORK DON'T HAVE TO MONITOR THE WATER SUPPLY FOR CERTAIN CONTAMINANTS LIKE PFAS CHEMICALS WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO RAISE THE RISK OF CANCER.

THE BILL APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS REQUIRES ALL WATER UTILITIES TO TEST FOR CONTAMINANTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR SIZE.

IT'S SPONSORED BY JAMES SKOUFIS, A DEMOCRAT FROM HUDSON VALLEY.

>> WE ALL TAKE WATER FOR GRANTED.

WE BATHE IN IT.

WE COOK WITH IT.

WE DRINK IT, AND IT'S NOT UNTIL SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THE WATER THAT WE REALIZE HOW DEPENDENT WE ARE ON IT, BUT THE ISSUE OFTENTIMES IS WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WATER.

>> BUT ANOTHER TOP ISSUE FELL OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS, BUT FOR LAWMAKERS LEFT ALBANY AND THAT'S THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT.

THAT BILL WOULD SET UP A SINGLE PAYER PAY SYSTEM IN NEW YORK ENDING NETWORK RESTRICTIONS, PREMIUMS AND OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS WHILE ADDING A NEW PAYROLL TAX.

SUPPORTERS RALLIED AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK TO PUSH FOR ITS PASSAGE BUT DEMOCRATS COULDN'T REACH A DEAL.

ASSEMBLY HEALTH CHAIR, DICK GOTTFRIED, WHO CARRIES THE BILL SAID A MAJOR ROAD BLOCK IS OPPOSITION FROM PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR UNIONS WHO FEAR THEIR COVERAGE WON'T BE THE SAME UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU'VE GOT A PACKAGE THAT YOU'VE BEEN LIVING WITH FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAT TAKES SOME PERSUADING.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SLOWLY OVER THE YEARS.

A LOT OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IS ONBOARD.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE REST OF IT ONBOARD.

>> LAWMAKERS AREN'T SCHEDULED IT RETURN TO ALBANY UNTIL NEXT JANUARY.

THAT COULD CHANGE IF SOMETHING COMES UP IN THE MEANTIME.

BUT WE COULD SEE LAWMAKERS BACK AT THE CAPITOL THIS SUMMER IF THE ASSEMBLY MOVES FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT AGAINST GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

THE SENATE, MEANWHILE, CONFIRMED TWO NEW JUDGES TO THE COURT OF APPEALS, NEW YORK'S HIGHEST COURT.

ONE OF THEM, ANTHONY CANNATARO, SAILED RIGHT THROUGH BUT FORMER NASSAU COUNTY D.A., MADELINE SINGAS, WAS MET WITH RESISTANCE WHO DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER PROSECUTOR ON THE HIGH COURT.

STATE SENATOR ALLESSANDRA BIAGGI.

>> OUR STATE'S HIGHEST COURT IS ENTRUSTED WITH ISSUING DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL NEW YORKERS AND I CANNOT IN GOOD FAITH, VOTE IN FAVOR OF D.A.

SINGAS' NOMINATION.

I BELIEVE HER PAST SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING HARMFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES RENDERS HER UNFIT TO SERVE ON THE COURT OF APPEALS AND TODAY I VOTE NAY AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.

>> BUT MOST DEMOCRATS VOTED IN FAVOR OF SINGAS, CITING HER EXPERIENCE IN OFFICE, INCLUDING PROGRAMS TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

OUR DARRELL CAMP WAS THE ONLY REPORTER AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK TO CATCH SINGAS AFTER SHE TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

SHE SAID SHE WASN'T SURPRISED.

>>REPORTER: D.A.

SINGAS, HOW DID IT GO IN THERE?

>> I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

>>REPORTER: OKAY.

WERE YOU EXPECTING TO BE GRILLED AS MUCH AS YOU WERE?

>> I'VE BEEN A D.A.

FOR MANY YEARS.

NOTHING SURPRISES ME.

IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE GRILLING BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SPOT.

>> DARRELL IS WITH ME IN STUDIO WITH KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> SURE THING.

>> DARRELL, IT SEEMED LIKE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> NOT ONLY DID SHE WANT TO TALK TO ME, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYONE.

ON THE WAY INTO THE CAPITOL, RYAN TARINELLI CAUGHT HER AS WELL.

SHE DIDN'T LOOK AT HIM AND HE GOT ONE QUESTION IN AND SHE BLEW RIGHT HIM.

I WAS STAKING OUTSIDE OF THE BLUE ROOM.

I THOUGHT, OKAY, IS SHE GOING TO TRY TO EVADE ME AND MYSELF AND ANOTHER OFF PHOTOGRAPHER, WE WERE LIKE, HEY, LET'S HOPE SHE DOESN'T RUN AWAY WHILE HER STAFFERS WERE IN THE HALLWAY.

I THINK THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, LET'S DEAL WITH THIS.

THE PROBLEM IS SHE WAS IN A TIGHT SPOT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS WERE VERY CRITICAL OF HER AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH OR ANYTHING THAT COULD CAUSE HER TO BE CANCELLED OR THAT WOULD CAUSE SOME SORT OF BLOWBACK.

SO SHE WAS VERY CAREFUL WITH HER WORDS.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY SHE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO TALK TO ANYONE.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT SHE AT LEAST LOOKED AT ME.

SHE DIDN'T LOOK AT RYAN.

>> A TRUE ATTORNEY.

>> ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE IS GOING TO BE A JUDGE ON THE COURT OF APPEALS.

>> THE HIGHEST COURT.

>> THERE SHOULD BE SOME PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A PATTERN WE'RE SEEING AT THE CAPITOL AT AS THIS END OF SESSION CONCLUDES THAT THE CAPITOL IS STILL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

EVEN THOUGH GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCED MAY 19TH THE STATE IS REOPEN.

YOU CAN GO TO A BASEBALL GAME.

YOU CAN GO TO THE THEATERS WHEN THEY REOPEN WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS.

BUT THE PUBLIC IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE CAPITOL AND IT HASN'T JUST BEEN THE COURT NOMINEES.

IT'S BEEN THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN, THE RANK-AND-FILE LAWMAKERS.

YOU CAN'T, AS A REPORTER, JUST WALK ON THE FLOOR AND GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I THINK THAT REALLY ILLUSTRATES I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE MENTALITY, OH, REPORTERS, WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO REPORTERS ANYMORE.

>> ANY SEMBLANCE OF TRANSPARENCY THAT EXISTED IN ALBANY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IS GONE AT THIS POINT.

THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS DON'T MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE.

THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MADE HERSELF AVAILABLE LAST NIGHT TO REPORTERS, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER FOR AT LEAST A FEW WEEKS.

>> AND THEN THAT WAS ANNOUNCED AND IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT.

I KNOW THIS WEEK, I WAS PRESSING.

EVEN ON ZOOM, COME ON, LET US ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND LET US GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS MYSTERIOUS END OF THE SESSION.

>> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE GOVERNOR HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN ALBANY?

>> I HAVE TO QUOTE POLITICO, 190 DAYS.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE, YES.

>> THE THING I FOUND FRUSTRATED AND YOU ALLUDED TO IT IS THAT IN A REGULAR SESSION, US AS REPORTERS IN THE CAPITOL, IF WE NEED TO CATCH A LAWMAKER, WE CAN SEE THEM IN THE HALL AND TALK TO THEM.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WAY THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON EVERY SESSION DURING THE BUSIER TIMES IN MARCH AND JUNE IS, AS REPORTERS, WE USUALLY STAKE OUT ROOMS WHERE THEY'RE MEETING ON REALLY BIG, IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE ENTIRE STATE AND NOW BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS STILL ON ZOOM, THERE AREN'T LAWMAKERS GOING INTO THE HALL AND THE ONES AT THE CAPITOL ARE DOING THE ZOOM CONFERENCES FROM THEIR OFFICES, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THE AVAILABILITY DIMINISHED >> IT USED TO BE HARD TO KEEP A SECRET IN THE CAPITOL.

BECAUSE SOMEBODY WOULD LEAK IT.

SOME LOBBYIST WALKING BY OR A STAFF MEMBER OR SEE SOMEONE GOING INTO A MEETING NOW IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO KEEP THINGS CLOSE TO THE VEST.

IT'S NOT JUST US WHINING.

WE REPRESENT THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET THE FULL PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

I THINK THAT'S A SHAME.

>> AS WE SAID IN OUR STORY AT THE START OF THE SHOW, AT THE START OF THIS WEEK, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT AS REPORTERS, WE KNEW WHAT THE TOP ISSUES WERE BROADLY, BUT THERE WERE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BILLS THAT PASSED BOTH HOUSES THIS WEEK THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE NO HEADS UM.

LIKE LAWMAKERS WERE HOLDING THE VEST.

>> THE BEST EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY, BOTH YOU AND I WERE SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR NEWS ON CLEAN SLATE ALL DAY, THROUGH THE NIGHT, LIKE 4:00, WE'RE LIKE, ARE YOU ALL FINISHED?

ARE WE DONE?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

BECAUSE THERE WERE RUMBLINGS ABOUT A FINALIZED DEAL.

TURNS OUT THAT DIDN'T PASS AND IF YOU ASKED ME LAST WEEK, WAS THE BAN OR THE ABILITY TO SUE MANUFACTURERS GOING TO PASS FOR GUN CRIMES-- >> GUN LAW.

>> AS OPPOSED TO CLEAN SLATE, I WOULD HAVE SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT AND HERE WE ARE AND THE INVERSE HAPPENED BECAUSE NO ONE IS ACCESSIBLE.

>> THAT WAS STRANGE.

THAT REALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.

GUN LIABILITY BECAUSE I ASKED THE ASSEMBLY, THE SPOKESPERSON THROUGH EMAIL, I SAID THAT'S A TWO-WAY DEAL, AND HE SAID YES.

I SAID, HOW COME NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS?

NORMALLY THEY WOULD CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT.

>> IT'S A FIRST-IN-THE-NATION LAW.

>> DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN OR NOT?

IT'S STRANGE THAT THESE THINGS WOULD SLIP BY OVERNIGHT AND THE WHOLE LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

>> AND THE ADULT SURVIVOR'S ACT AND THAT PASSED THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY.

THE ASSEMBLY IS LIKE, WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> THAT'S BASED ON THE CHILD'S VICTIM ACT WOULD GIVE ONE-YEAR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY AND ADULT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT COULD SUE THEIR ABUSER AND THAT WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE AND OTHER SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS CLOSING LOOP HOLES IF THE LAWS, AND IT KIND OF SANK IN THE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT REALLY AN EXPLANATION.

THAT ONE-- I'M FINDING THAT ONE KIND OF CONFOUNDING BECAUSE THERE WERE MEMBERS THAT WERE SUPPORTED.

>> BIPARTISAN, BOTH PARTIES.

>> YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IN THE SENATE MANY OF THOSE BILLS WERE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SO THAT WAS VERY STRANGE.

AND WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DIRECT ACCOUNTING OF WHY WAS IT, YOU KNOW, OKAY TO NOT TAKE UP THOSE BILLS THAT THERE SEEM TO BE GENERAL AGREEMENT WHERE NEEDED?

>> AND WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE CAME ON THE AIR, FOR ME, IT SEEMS MORE AND MORE LIKE THE MODERATE DEMOCRATS IN ALBANY ARE REALLY RUNNING THE SHOW, AND MAYBE THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THE MORE TO THE LEFT DEMOCRATS, THERE'S NOT AS MANY OF THEM AS THE MODERATES.

TO BE FAIR, THE MODERATES, MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE MUCH LONGER THAN THE PROGRESSIVES.

THEY'RE MORE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, I THINK.

>> YOU THINK THIS IS PROVIDING COVER FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHY IT'S GETTING DONE.

THE PROGRESSIVES CAN YELL ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY ACT ON IT.

>> YES.

IF THIS WAS A REGULAR SESSION AND WE HAD ADVOCATES AT THE CAPITOL AND LOBBYISTS AT THE CAPITOL AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LAWMAKERS, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE MORE ACTION ON THE LEGISLATION.

IT MIGHT HAVE TANKED BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ARE TAKING COVER AT THIS POINT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE WHICH HAS ENOUGH SPONSORS TO PASS IF IT WERE ON THE FLOOR.

I TEND TO THINK THAT, TOO.

THAT THE MODERATES, THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT, HAVE NEW YORK STATE RUN ALL THE HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE HONESTLY, NEW YORK'S BUREAUCRACY DOESN'T HAVE THE BEST REPUTATION.

THAT COULD BE ANOTHER WAY OF TRYING TO HOLD THAT BACK WITHOUT HAVING TO SAY WHY.

>> THERE WERE SHADES OF BLUE, THOUGH.

I WAS TELLING WHEN WE FIRST GOT IN EARLY THIS MORNING, MODERATE COMES IN DEGREES.

>> YES.

>> GOVERNOR CUOMO, COMPARED TO A LOT OF THE FURTHER LEFT DEMOCRATS, IS FUNCTIONALLY A MODERATE.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THAT-- WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO DID AND DID NOT CALL FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE WHEN THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS CURRANT UP, IT GIVES YOU A SENSE THAT THERE IS STILL A POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL IT A SWAP, I GUESS.

I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY USE THAT TERM.

THIS IS A STATUS QUO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T NECESSARILY COMFORTABLE DISRUPTING.

>> AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS ACTUALLY DID NOT ACT ON BILLS THAT YOU COULD GUESS THAT GOVERNOR CUOMO PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT ACTED ON.

AND THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN SPECULATED ON IS THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE, PROVIDING GOVERNOR FOR GOVERNOR CUOMO?

>> IS THERE SCANDALS?

>> I KNOW.

THAT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT WITH A MINUTE LEFT.

THE IMPEACHMENT HEARING IS GOING ON IN THE ASSEMBLY.

THEY MAY GO FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT MODERATE DEMOCRATS, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE ASSEMBLY?

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL PROVIDE SOME TENSION?

>> RIGHT NOW, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS PROVIDING COVER FOR CUOMO.

IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS AND THEY GAVE A BRIEF UPDATE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND SAY WE'RE INTERVIEWING MORE PEOPLE.

UNTIL THEY PROVE OTHERWISE THAT THEY'RE REALLY SERIOUS, WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THEY ARE DRAGGING IT OUT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN DESPITE THE GOVERNOR BEING UNDER SCRUTINY FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, POSSIBLY HIRING NURSING HOME NUMBERS, FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, ATTORNEY GENERALS INVESTIGATION, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT STUFF SWIRLING AROUND AS THE SESSION ENDS.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THAT IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

>> TEN MORE DAYS.

>> KAREN DEWITT FROM NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC RADIO AND OUR OWN DARRELL CAMP, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> SURE.

>> NOW WE'LL LOOK BACK AT A LOOK AHEAD.

TEN YEARS AGO, NEW YORK BECAME THE LARGEST STATE TO LEGALIZE SAME SEX MARRIAGE THAT WIN DIDN'T COME EASY.

LAWMAKERS VOTED DOWN SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN 2009.

SO WHEN IT CAME UP AGAIN TWO YEARS LATER, NO ONE KNEW HOW IT WOULD TURN OUT.

IN THE END, FOUR REPUBLICANS JOINED DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND IT PASSED.

BEFORE THAT, DANNY O'DONNELL SPENT YEARS PUSHING FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

HE'S ONE OF THE FEW OPENLY GAY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT WAS PERSONAL TO HIM.

SINCE THEN, HE LED THE CHARGE ON OTHER LAWS INVOLVING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

WE SPOKE THIS WEEK.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER DANNY O'DONNELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE NEW YORK STATE PASSED MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

YOU CARRIED THE BILL AT THE TIME.

IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DEBATE AND A TENSE DEBATE IN NEW YORK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW IF THE BILL WAS GOING TO PASS WHEN IT CAME TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE ME BACK TEN YEARS.

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD DURING THE FINAL DAYS WHEN WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WELL, MY HOUSE PASSED IT ALREADY THREE TIMES BEFORE WE GOT TO 2011.

SO WE KNEW THAT WE HAD A SHOT AT THE SENATE AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS IT AGAIN.

I WAS KEPT OUT OF THE LOOP ABOUT WHO THE SENATORS WERE, WHO THEY WERE COUNTING ON.

I KNEW THERE WERE ENOUGH OF THEM, AND MANY SENATORS SAID TO ME, I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR THIS, BUT I JUST CAN'T.

YOU KNOW, MY VOTERS WON'T GO FOR THAT.

IT WAS A REAL VINDICATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF HAVING THE LGBTQ PEOPLE AT THE TABLE.

BECAUSE IN MY HOUSE FOR SURE, A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES COULDN'T VOTE AGAINST ME AND AGAINST US, AND THAT ABILITY TO MAKE IT PERSONAL AND THEN I PROMISED MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING THE SENATORS, IF THEY VOTED YES, I WOULD INVITE THEM TO MY WEDDING.

WHICH I DID.

IT WAS A VERY LARGE WEDDING.

BUT IT WAS A JOY-FILLED WEDDING WHERE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO VOTE YES AND IN 2007, THERE WAS ONLY 35% APPROVAL FOR IT.

SO THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THIS WITH ME ACTUALLY EXHIBITED A GREAT DEAL OF BRAVERY.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SAW MARRIAGE EQUALITY AS THE END OF THE FIGHT FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS AND YOU AND I BEING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY KNOW IT WAS MORE OF LIKE A BEGINNING, A NEXT CHAPTER IN A WHOLE LOAD OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.

YOU AND I BEING MEMBERS OF IT.

I'M WONDERING OVER THE PAST DECADE IN NEW YORK, WE HAVE DONE A FEW BILLS TARGETED AT THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT STUCK OUT TO YOU AS SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN SO INVOLVED IN THIS DEBATE?

>> WELL, WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE A BACKLASH AND I DIDN'T EXPECT THE BACKLASH TO BE AFFIRMS.

SHORTLY AFTER MARRIAGE WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND, ALL OF A SUDDEN STATE WAS PASSING LAWS WHO HAS ACCESS TO A BATHROOM.

I RAN A BILL THAT A BATHROOM IS WITH A TOILET AND THE DOOR LOCKS, ANYBODY CAN USE IT.

THE TRANS COMMUNITY WHO WERE THE ONES THAT WERE TARGETED, WHICH WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

THAT BILL IS NOW, IN EFFECT, HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

WE ALSO PASSED GENDER RECOGNITION ACT THIS WEEK AND THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A MECHANISM TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET DOCUMENTS AND I.D.S THAT MATCH WHO THEY ARE.

SO A LOT OF TRANS PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE AND THINGS WHEN THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE DOESN'T MATCH THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR THE, YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE THEIR LICE TONES GET INTO A BAR AND IT DOESN'T MATCH WHAT THE PERSON IS SEEING.

THAT CAN OFTEN LEAD TO VIOLENCE.

AND SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE PUTTING NEUTRAL GENDER MARKERS.

SO SOMEONE CAN CHOOSE TO NOT BE MALE OR FEMALE BUT TO BE X.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

A LOT OF THESE THINGS MUST SEEM INCREMENTAL TO PEOPLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT INCREMENTAL TO PEOPLE AFFECTED WHO LIVE IN FEAR BECAUSE OF IT.

>> THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY GAME-CHANGERS FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ON THE HORIZON IN TERMS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

I FEEL PERSONALLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, ISSUES INVOLVING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE HAVE REALLY COME TO THE SPOTLIGHT AS WE SEE MORE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN POPULAR CULTURE AND IN THE MEDIA, BUT I'D LOVE TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE ISSUES THAT INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> WELL, I'M A LOT OLDER THAN YOU, MR. CLARK.

[LAUGHTER] SO THE WORLD WAS VERY DIFFERENT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

THERE WAS NOBODY WHO WENT TO THE PROM WITH THEIR BOYFRIEND AT MY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1978.

NOW, WE HAVE KIDS YOUNGER AND YOUNGER WHO ARE COMING OUT AS LESBIAN OR GAY, COMING OUT AS TRANS.

THEY'RE IN SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THOSE CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY, AND WE ALSO NEED TO FIGHT TO GET RECOGNITION FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO.

A GREAT NUMBER OF TIMES, NEWSPAPERS HAVE WRITTEN ME OUT OF THE STORY.

THEY JUST DON'T-- I WROTE A BILL, THEY DON'T EVEN PUT MY NAME IN THE NEWSPAPER.

WHETHER IT'S INTERNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA OR JUST HATRED DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

AND SO I PUSH BACK AND I SAY, HOW COULD YOU WRITE A STORY ABOUT A BILL I WORKED ON FOR FIVE YEARS AND NOT MENTION MY NAME?

>> RIGHT.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE OPENLY GAY MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE 213 TOTAL MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I'M WONDERING HOW CHALLENGING IT IS WHEN YOU APPROACH YOUR COLLEAGUES WITH THESE ISSUES AS PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM AND MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT.

IS IT DIFFICULT TO TALK WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THESE ISSUES?

>> THERE IS A LOT.

WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED, PEOPLE SAY TO ME, I DON'T KNOW ANY GAY PEOPLE.

I SAY, WELL, DO YOU LEAVE YOUR HOUSE?

DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR CUT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW ANY GAY PEOPLE?

THAT CHANGED QUITE A BIT.

A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES OVER TIME HAVE COME TO LEARN.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE MORE ACCEPTED IN URBAN AREAS THAN RURAL AREAS AND A LOT OF THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, TOO.

WHEN I WAS GIVEN AN AWARD IN CALIFORNIA, I WENT TO THE V.I.P.

RECEPTION AND THERE WERE TWO VERY HANDSOME YOUNG MEN IN SPEEDOS.

ONE OF THESE YOUNG MEN GREW UP IN MONTANA ON A CATTLE RANCH AND WHEN HE CAME OUT TO HIS MOTHER, HIS MOTHER, CATTLE RANCHER SAID, THE GAYS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO THEIR OWN (INAUDIBLE).

HOW PROFOUND IS THAT?

IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO IDENTIFY.

IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, CHOOSE TO LOVE YOURSELF TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

NOT EVERYONE GETS THAT CHANCE.

AND THE DISCRIMINATION IS REAL.

THE INVISIBILITY IS REAL.

AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORLD THAT WE LEAVE IS BETTER THAN THE WORLD THAT WE GREW UP IN SO IT'S BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS ALL DAY.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

SENATE MEMBER DANNY O'DONNELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AS ALWAYS, FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> I'M SURE WE'LL SEE MORE LGBTQ-RELATED BILLS WHEN LAWMAKERS COME BACK TO ALBANY IN JANUARY, BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR THIS WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ]