Cuomo may soon gain authority to officiate at weddings

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who brought same-sex marriage to New York, now wants to go from the politics of weddings to the practice.

The father of three has included a measure that would allow the governor to officiate at weddings. It's wrapped into the Legislature's "big ugly" that links disparate policies together, many of which couldn't have gained approval on their merits alone.

Legislative leaders agreed, rather than have the late and unusual measure disrupt a major legislative package. No reason was provided by legislators.

"The governor wants to marry people," Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said.

So, the governor's bill is likely to become law when the overall package is adopted by the Legislature on Thursday.

New York would join a few states and U.S. territories, according to the American Marriage Ministries. Among them are Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Guam and Micronesia.