A Last-Minute Same-Sex Marriage Push From Chuck and Kirsten

ALBANY—In a letter sent today, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer are urging members of the State Assembly to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

"We have expressed our support for full marriage equality in New York and for a reworking of federal law that denies full federal legal equality to anyone who is lawfully married in any state," the two wrote. "Passage of this bill will be a vital step to achieving that goal."

The letter is circulating around the chamber. It comes the day after Gillibrand met with gay activists and several weeks after Schumer announced he is in full support of same-sex marriage.

Asked earlier about the bill, David Paterson said "I think it will pass; it will be more significant when it comes to the Senate."