On The New NYS Budget Same-Sex Couples Married Out of State..(Read on)

Lawmakers last night went through the “big ugly” budget bill — the one that contains the revenue actions like scrapping the sales tax exemption on clothing and reducing the charitable deduction for high-income earners — and amended it. This means it can’t be taken up until Thursday.

One major change: a plan to allow same-sex couples married out of state to file joint tax returns has been excised, it appears to me. Yesterday, Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. threw a fit when he found out the provision was contained it the bill. Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson — who needs Diaz’s vote to have a full 32-person majority — said early Monday evening that “that issue will be dealt with to ensure that Reverend Diaz is comfortable.”