In the Democrat and Chronicle:

Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, Putnam County, said he's undecided on the same-sex marriage bill but would support civil unions, which would afford gay couples equal rights but not the ability to marry...

Ball said after passing civil unions, New York could pass a law allowing for issues to be on the ballot — called initiative and referendum — and then let voters decide whether to make gay marriage legal.

"I believe we could immediately pass the most comprehensive civil-union bill in the country and at the same time find a way to constitutionally package an initiative and referendum on gay marriage and put it out to the people," Ball explained.