While the motives for the switch from Democratic to Republican control of the New York Senate seem to range from the sordid to the sublime (or at least, principled) it does seem to take the pressure off marriage for the rest of the session (until June 22). It has always seemed a little strange that the legislature was spending so much time and attention on redefining marriage given the other pressing demands in the state. So, whatever the upshot for New York politics, I suspect this will be good news for our most basic social institution in New York.