Vermont’s Push for Same-Sex Marriage Halted?
Though Vermont already offers same-sex civil unions, Vermont state representatives Mark Larson and David Zuckerman introduced a bill last month to allow same-sex couples to enter into full marriage. Things were looking good last week, as many state senators and representatives made positive comments about the bill. Said Sen. Peter Shumlin, "passing this bill is the right thing to do at this time."
But the Washington Blade is now reporting that Vermont's governor Jim Douglas may be poised to veto the bill if it passes. Douglas, who opposes same-sex marriage and believes the state's civil unions law is good the way it is, has promised to veto any legislation that does not relate to the state's fiscal crisis. Though the governor has not made any official statement as to whether he will sign or veto this bill. California's legislature also twice passed gay marriage bills that were vetoed in 2007.
The good news is that the bill may win a veto-proof majority, which requires 2/3 of both the House and Senate. The current Republican-Democrat split in the Legislature is favorable for bypassing the Republican governor's veto and introducing same-sex marriage to the state.
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