New York State's passing legislation legalizing same sex marriage is a wonderful thing. Recognizing all our citizens as having equal rights, equal protection, is a wonderful thing.
However it is also clear that there was pretty much a de facto quid pro quo between the support for this bill, and the earlier support by Cuomo, the NY State Senate Republicans, and way too many NY State Democrats for all the economically regressive legislations that was passed (cuts in taxes for wealthy coupled with cuts in services, and other related issues connected to housing and regulation).
As the NY Times published back in mid-May, Donors to G.O.P. Are Backing Gay Marriage Push. Specifically a who's-who of usually right wing Wall Street folks ponied up to pay for the lobbying required, and promises of future supportto key swing Republicans (and the Republican senate leader's okay to even allow the issue to a vote) and a handful swing conservadems:
The donors represent some of New York’s wealthiest and most politically active figures and include Paul E. Singer, a hedge fund manager and top-tier Republican donor, as well as two other financiers, Steven A. Cohen and Clifford S. Asness.and Daniel Loeb, our old hypocritical friend Ken Mehlman and of course Michael Bloomberg.