Lawmakers in Vermont have announced that they will shepherd through equal marriage legislation week after next.
“Passing this bill is the right thing to do at this time,” said Sen. Peter Shumlin, D-Vt. President Pro Tem.
Shumlin and Rep. Shap Smith, D-Vt. House Speaker, plan to push a marriage equality bill quickly through both chambers.
The bill would grant same-sex couples the right to marry in Vermont.
“We know that this issue could either be one that unifies or one that divides us and we want to ensure it’s one that unifies us,” Shumlin said…
[Political analyst Garrison] Nelson says the timing makes sense, it will pass this session, and the governor will ultimately let it.
“The anticipated horrors of civil unions never came to pass so consequently this is the logical next step,” Nelson said. “Douglas won’t sign the bill. He won’t veto the bill. He’ll let it become law without his signature.”
The governor himself has not said whether he would sign a same-sex marriage bill. Lawmakers want this done quickly. They will take up gay marriage in a week-and-a-half and they plan to hold a public hearing at the Statehouse. But the discussion might not matter. Lawmakers say the opposition had an opportunity to weigh in during statewide public meetings held in the fall of 2007. Opponents say they boycotted the meetings because it was a quote “dog and pony show,” and point out that the Freedom to Marry Task Force begins airing TV ads tonight– the same day the press conference was held.
Link to WCAX’s recent coverage of the story here.
Cross-posted at Pam’s House Blend.
I forgot to list Hawaii in the “everywhere” poll option. Did I leave out any other states that are actively contemplating marriage or cu/dp legislation?
There is too much going on for me to keep straight. Let me make a more comprehensive list:
Maine also has a marriage bill pending.