Morning Read, Upstate: Can the Same-Sex Bill Marriage Pass?

Bill Thompson for U.S. Senate?

A nose count shows same-sex marriage is not a slam dunk in the State Senate.

"The stakes are much higher now, following Maine, and it would be an enormous boost to the movement to prevail in New York," said Matt Foreman, a gay rights advocate who has served as the head of the Empire State Pride Agenda. But "if we don't win marriage in New York in this special session, it's going to be a very hard lift next year."

A rally in support of gay rights was held in Goshen.

Legislators are too spooked to do any hard budget cutting on Tuesday, Fred Dicker writes.

Queens will be a battleground in 2010.

Susan Arbetter says David Paterson is trying for a "grab bag" of policy.

He'll deliver a blunt message to legislators today.

Also in the grab bag is a measure that would take away parole credits for repeat offenders.

Al Sharpton can help bridge the deficit by paying his back taxes.

Sketching the Bruno trial.

Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb will meet today with Dede Scozzafava.

Is the runoff from hyrdrofracking radioactive?

There have been 270 drilling mishaps in the last 30 years.

Representative Scott Murphy voted against the healthcare bill.

Bill Owens voted for it, and was attacked for breaking a campaign promise.

Most other New York Democrats voted for the bill as well.

Jacob Gershman wonders if anyone will look at the Working Families Party.

And below, here's the Empire State Pride Agenda's annual review video: