ALBANY — Ka-ching. Ka-ching.
Mayor Bloomberg brought his massive political checkbook to bear on Albany’s gay-marriage stalemate yesterday as Senate Republicans continued to agonize over whether to allow a decisive floor vote on same-sex nuptials.
Hizzoner — a major financial benefactor for Senate Republicans — made his second trip to the Capitol this spring to urge the divided GOP conference behind closed doors to release the legislation and make New York the nation’s largest state to allow gay nuptials.
The mayor’s visit came in a pivotal week in which five lawmakers switched their votes in favor of gay marriage and brought the measure within one Senate Republican’s vote of becoming law.
Allowing such a vote, however, could cost Republicans crucial Conservative Party support in key districts and, sources said, senators hope the billionaire mayor and his wealthy friends could provide critical financial support to preserve their one-vote majority in the chamber.
Bloomberg has donated huge sums over the years — including $900,000 in 2010 alone — to help Republicans keep that toehold to power in the heavily Democratic state.
But the mayor said he made no pledge of continued financial support during his brief powwow with Republicans.
“I can just tell you that people I know and people and I respect believe in democracy and they believe in supporting candidates that they think are honest,” Bloomberg said. “They look at a variety of issues those candidates get a chance to vote on.”
The mayor received applause upon entering the conference, but left with no commitment for a vote or the critical third GOP defector needed to make gay marriage a reality.
Bloomberg tried to rally lawmakers, telling them their vote for gay marriage would be historic.
“Each and every generation has removed some of the barriers to full participation in the American dream. And the next great barrier standing before our generation is the prohibition on marriage for same-sex couples,” he said, according to his prepared remarks.
Bloomberg said he has been pressing Sens. John Flanagan of Long Island, Mark Grisanti of Buffalo and Andrew Lanza of Staten Island to consider voting for same-sex marriage.
Grisanti and Lanza have suggested they might vote “yes” while Flanagan has so far described himself as a firm “no.”
Some potential “yes” voters, such as Lanza and Sen. Greg Ball (R-Putnam), have requested additional protections for businesses and individuals who refuse to accommodate same-sex ceremonies, something advo- cates reject as unconstitutional.
Lanza, for one, told reporters the mayor was “as authentic and persuasive as always,” but that he was still leaning “no.”
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) again reported no decision on whether to allow a vote after the Bloomberg conference and a subsequent meeting with Gov. Cuomo. Skelos raised the prospect that Cuomo might call special sessions to keep the Senate in Albany to vote on gay marriage, among other issues.
Lawmakers and lobbyists surmised the measure had become bogged down with legislation sought by Cuomo — namely capping local property taxes and renewing expired rent regulations — and that talks were building to one megadeal.