Today’s Constitutional Convention is jam-packed with legislative goodness. Gay marriage surfaces only in proposals number 19 and 20, and unanimous consent is required to change the order of the calendar. Before then, the assembled legislators must consider making health care a constitutional right, extending their own terms to four years, absentee voting, redistricting, the mechanics of ballot questions, and the mechanics of filling vacant elected offices, among others. It promises to be a long afternoon (starting at 1 pm – the Globe says there’ll be TV coverage on Channel 2 and on NECN Globe info was wrong – TV coverage is on Channel 44), and there is a real possibility that they won’t get to the marriage amendments. The joint session could again be adjourned to later in the summer, or even until after the November elections. Wouldn’t that be something!
UPDATE (1:24 pm): Trav just read a proposal by Rep. Travis to move the gay marriage amendment to the top of the calendar. But that proposal needed unanimous consent, and loud objections were voiced, so the proposal failed. Apparently, the calendar will proceed roughly in order.
1:26 pm: The health care amendment is now being debated. It has already passed one legislative session, and needs only 50 votes today to be placed on this November’s ballot.
A post which talks about what might happen if it’s NOT brought to a vote today.
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http://capecodporcupine.blogspot.com/2006/07/high-noon-for-gay-marriage.html
Has any group compiled a list of the 50+ legislature who are most likely to vote in favor of the amendment? If so, is there a link?
that Mass Equality is tracking this as closely as anyone. There’s a tool here with which you can look up individual legislators’ voting history. Don’t know if they have a comprehensive list, but you could call them. 617-878-2300.
you would have an answer! Thanks.
So – who knows what’s going on – Frank Phillips or Trav?