Cuomo Inaugurated as N.Y. Governor

Andrew Cuomo, who called marriage equality a priority issue during his campaign, was inaugurated as governor of New York on Saturday.

Although he did not mention marriage equality specifically in his inaugural address, which focused largely on fiscal challenges, the new Democratic governor reached out to Republican leaders and called for more cooperation. The fate of the marriage equality bill depends on action in the New York state senate, where the GOP holds a slim 32-30 margin.

“Rather than seek the apparent safety of the lowest common denominator, we must strive to reach the highest possible goal,” said Cuomo. “We must realize that achieving political consensus in a political conference is different than providing government leadership for the people of the state of New York.”

Sen. Dean Skelos, the majority leader, has said that he would recommend bringing the marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote subject to speaking with his Republican conference. The bill failed by a vote of 38-24 in the senate in 2009, with no Republicans voting in favor, but polls show more voters in support now, and gay groups have achieved high-profile electoral defeats of three lawmakers who voted against the bill.