Update: Vermont legislature overrides governor veto; legalizes gay marriage

budcrew08 · Apr 3, 2009

Didn't see it on the sports and news board, didn't look on the politics board, so if it's a d_b, sorry.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090403/NEWS03/90403002

MONTPELIER - The Vermont House voted 95-52 Thursday night to allow same-sex couples to marry in Vermont.

The tally suggests it might be difficult for the House to override a promised gubernatorial veto of the bill that would need 100 votes, though supporters said they would push for that.

The vote came at 9 p.m. after four hours of impassioned debate on the bill in a chamber filled with supporters and opponents.

Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke on the House floor about gays and lesbians in his community - carpenters and nurses and maple sugarers - and of his own relationship with his male partner.

"That's who we're talking about here today," he said. "These couples are living everyday lives of ordinary and extraordinary significance."

Lippert declared that the civil unions law he helped craft nine years ago could not provide complete equality. "People know what it means when you say you're married," he said.

Rep. Johanna Donovan, D-Burlington, agreed. "There's only one thing truly equal to marriage, and that's marriage," she said. "Now is the time to give civil unions a respectful burial."

Like Lippert, several legislators who are gay or who have gay family members spoke emotionally of their own circumstances.

"I didn't choose to be gay," Rep. Steve Howard, D-Rutland, said. "God made me gay. I begged him not to make it so," he said. "I stand because nobody should be ashamed of how God made them."

With his voice breaking from emotion, Rep. Jason Lorber, D-Burlington, described seeing the notice about his union with his partner under the heading "civil union" in the newspaper. "Why do we have to be off to the side?" Lorber said. "Why do we have to say you are different? Why can't we just say congratulations?"

Rep. Tim Jerman, D-Essex Junction, said he hopes his daughter, a lesbian, will be able to come home to marry when the time comes.

There were a few surprises from legislators. Rep. Kurt Wright, R-Burlington, said he was undecided going into the debate. Quoting a letter from former Sen. Peter Brownell, who lost his seat over civil unions but didn't regret his support, Wright said he would support the bill.

Other legislators spoke about why they could not support the bill.

"It's not easy to speak against this bill," said Rep. Thomas Koch, R-Barre. "Marriage in my understanding has for the ages been one man and one woman. Now we take it upon ourselves to change that definition."
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But a veto's forthcoming:

MONTPELIER -- Gov. Jim Douglas could veto a same-sex marriage bill as early as Monday evening.

Even as the House of Representatives moves for final passage of a same-sex marriage bill today, Senate leadership and the governor's office are making plans to act on the measure.

• Houses passes gay marriage

Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin said this morning the Senate will convene at 5 p.m Monday and he expects the Senate to concur with changes the House made to the bill -- S.115. The bill then would be sent by the Senate clerk to the governor for his signature.

Douglas has vowed to veto the bill, which would allow same-sex couples to marry. That veto could come as soon as Monday night or Tuesday morning, spokeswoman Dennise Casey said this morning.

That would set in motion a process to override the veto that would begin Tuesday morning in the Senate, Shumlin said. To override a veto, both chambers need to vote in a two-thirds majority -- virtually assured in the 30-member Senate, where 26 senators supported the legislation last week.

The House's timetable is less certain. It could take up an override as soon as Tuesday after the Senate acts. But the House leadership also could delay action until supporters felt they had enough votes to assure passage -- 100 votes if all 150 members are present.
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http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090403/NEWS03/90403012

EDIT: Links.

Fenian_Bastard · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governorveto could be Monday

The bill passes with clear majorities in both house, but Douglas is going to veto it so it won't be "a distraction."
They're not even trying hard any more.

MU_was_not_so_hard · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

The governor's "problem" is that both the house and senate likely have the numbers to override his veto. And there's a good chance that any senator or congressmen who prevents that won't be reelected.

budcrew08 · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

Fenian_Bastard said:

The bill passes with clear majorities in both house, but Douglas is going to veto it so it won't be "a distraction."
They're not even trying hard any more.
Click to expand...

He's a pain in the ass... he's also going to be irrevelant eventually. Good for Vermont (and Iowa) for advances people's civil rights.

Diabeetus · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

It would make me happy to see a state get it through via the legislature, but I've always been of the belief that civil rights aren't something that should be put up to a vote.

Bully for Vermont!

andyouare? · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

The latest poll I read said about 55 percent of Vermontonians? -ers? were OK with gay marriage. So the Governor will be overriding the will of the people and the will of the legislature voted in by the people?

Ace · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

andyouare? said:

The latest poll I read said about 55 percent of Vermontonians? -ers? were OK with gay marriage. So the Governor will be overriding the will of the people and the will of the legislature voted in by the people?
Click to expand...

Yeah, but maybe he'll get to be president some day with that kind of anti-gay resume in his back pocket.

MU_was_not_so_hard · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

andyouare? said:

The latest poll I read said about 55 percent of Vermontonians? -ers? were OK with gay marriage. So the Governor will be overriding the will of the people and the will of the legislature voted in by the people?
Click to expand...

And that's exactly what I was saying earlier. My folks live in Burlington and have gotten into VT politics (from an observer's side, that is). They were telling me that it might actually be higher than the 55 percent polled.
That tells me that a Governor veto is not going with the "will of his people." It also tells me what I said before: That any state senator or congressman who votes down a possible veto override vote won't be around for much longer.

And Ace, is that sort of like Gov. Mark Sanford in SC saying he's running for a national office after helping to further drown the state that is already No. 2 in the country (percentage-wise) in unemployment? I think I'm missing something...

budcrew08 · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

andyouare? said:

The latest poll I read said about 55 percent of Vermontonians? -ers? were OK with gay marriage. So the Governor will be overriding the will of the people and the will of the legislature voted in by the people?
Click to expand...

Vermonters. And that made me laugh since I've seen Anchorman about 7 times.

And to your question: Yup. That's exactly what he's going to do.

budcrew08 · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

Ace said:

andyouare? said:

The latest poll I read said about 55 percent of Vermontonians? -ers? were OK with gay marriage. So the Governor will be overriding the will of the people and the will of the legislature voted in by the people?
Click to expand...

Yeah, but maybe he'll get to be president some day with that kind of anti-gay resume in his back pocket.
Click to expand...

He's been at Obama's side a good amount of time recently since he's the Vice-Chairman of the Republican Governors Association (actually it might be the national one; can't remember off the top of my head).

Diabeetus · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

Maybe Vermont could write gay marriage IN to its constitution. That would make some people's heads explode

Beaker · Apr 3, 2009

Re: Vermont's House advances gay marriage bill; governor's veto could be Monday

Good for Vermont; I don't think the gov's veto stands a chance.

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Update: Vermont legislature overrides governor veto; legalizes gay marriage

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