Same-Sex Marriage Issues

New York State Senator Pedro Espada joins other legislators in a news conference on the steps of City Hall in New York City, demanding Mayor Bloomberg negotiate with them before they vote to reinstate his control of the largest school system in the United States, July 19, 2009. Bloomberg had control of the schools for the past several years, but the law granting him the power expired earlier on June 30 without being renewed as a Senate gridlock, which was set off on June 8 when Espada and fellow Democrat Monserrate crossed over to the Republican side, has imperiled billions of dollars of federal stimulus funds, forced cities to stop collecting routine taxes, and left unresolved hot-button issues, including gay marriage.