in april 2009, it was revealed that paterson would propose legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in new york. paterson later tapped former senate majority leader and former political foe joseph bruno to support same-sex marriage in albany. on december 2, 2009, same-sex marriage legislation was "overwhelmingly" defeated on the floor of the new york state senate by a vote of 24 to 38; no republican voted yes, eight democrats voted no. the "daily news" described the defeat as a "major blow", while "the new york times" stated that the defeat "all but ensures that the issue is dead in new york until at least 2011, when a new legislature will be installed."