“Quick Agreement Unlikely on …… Budget Cuts”

“ALBANY — Negotiations over Gov. ………… plan to cut $1 billion out of the current state budget stalled today, legislative leaders said, making it extremely unlikely that a package will be in place for lawmakers to vote on when they return to the Capitol on Monday.

Although leaders of both the Democratic-controlled Assembly and the Republican-led Senate have pledged to make cuts in order to eliminate a budget deficit, disagreements this weekend over where to cut -- especially in the political minefield of aid to local school districts -- appear to have dissipated their resolve to act quickly.”

When taking a second look at the vote on the gay marriage bill in the Assembly on Tuesday, one can't help but notice that Assemblyman Ruben Diaz, Jr. voted against the bill. Now, this may not seem unusual, given his father's staunch opposition to this issue but, the question here is: Why? This is an Assemblyman who has an employee and a key fundraiser that are gay. And, the last time I checked, one or two of his close relatives (uncles) are also gay. It seems to me that the Diaz crew adheres to the motto “Do as I say, not as I do.”