Courtesy of Burlington Free Press… Live feed has ended. The marriage bill passed 95-52, which unfortunately, is not a veto proof majority. Governor Douglas has threatened to veto the bill.
Lot’s happening on the marriage equality front, not all of it bad…
As reported yesterday, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas held a press conference indicating he would not support a marriage equality bill passed overwhelming by the state Senate, citing that the current economic crisis took precedence over such legislation. Watch the press conference below:
Also yesterday, same-sex civil union legislation was effectively killed in Hawaii, despite a majority of Senators supporting the measure, falling three short of the nine members required to bring it up for a full vote.
But there was good news in New Hampshire today as their House of Representatives voted to send their same-sex marriage bill to the Senate by a slim margin of 186-179.
The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who delivered the invocation at President Obama’s inaugural celebration said this about the House vote…
“I am delighted, because it’s clear to me that New Hampshire values one class of citizenship and not two … And I’m delighted that (the bill) threatens people of faith in no way.”
Unfortunately New Hampshire governor John Lynch, a Democrat, does not support the measure, and will likely veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.
From WCAX TV in Vermont…
The Vt. Senate gave its final stamp of approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Vermont. Passage came on a voice vote with no debate, one day after the Senate gave the bill preliminary approval on a 26-4 roll call vote. Now the issue moves to the House, where the Judiciary Committee has scheduled a week’s worth of testimony on the issue. It is expected to pass.
Governor Douglas has said that he opposes the bill, and this afternoon he announced he plans to veto it. He said he made the announcement to stop speculation and to focus attention on economy.
From Burlington Free Press live blog…
DOUGLAS: I believe our civil union law serves Vermont well … I believe that marriage should remain between a man and a woman … I’m announcing that I intend to veto this legislation when it reaches my desk.
Bastard.
First civil unions. Now gay marriage. Progress.
Backed by 59 legislators, Vermont state Reps. Mark Larson and David Zuckerman introduced legislation today to legalize gay marriage.
The bill will likely be opposed by Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, who previously said he would not support same-sex marrage.
“I think the current civil union law is sufficient. It accords equality of rights to Vermonters in terms of their relationships and I think we should leave the law as it is.”
Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions in 2000. And the world didn’t end then. And it won’t end because of gay marriage either.
More from the Burlington Free Press.