Maine House passes LD 1020 -Same Sex Marriage

[BR_Parkway]

Source: Q Notes

Breaking now 89-58

Maine drew familiar battle lines this morning. Proponents of marriage equality see this bill as an end to discrimination and a path to fairness through equal civil rights. Opponents spoke endlessly about lifestyle choices. procreation, God and the Ocean Grove pavilion. The bill won a 21-14 vote of approval in the Senate last Thursday.

Governor. John Baldacci, a Democrat, remained uncommitted as of Monday. He has opposed gay marriage in the past. If the governor signs the bill into law, opponents are expected to organize a campaign under Maine’s people’s veto law to force a repeal referendum. Polls have shown Mainers to be split on the question.

Maine voters are authorized in the Maine Constitution to use the process of veto referendum to challenge laws recently passed by the Maine State Legislature. In Maine, this process is known as the "People's Veto".

According to the laws governing the initiative & referendum process in Maine, the required number of valid signatures to put a People's Veto on the ballot is set at 10% of the number of votes cast for the office of Governor of Maine in the most recent gubernatorial election. Gubernatorial elections are held in Maine every four years; the most recent gubernatorial election was in 2006 when 550,870 total votes were cast for the office of governor.

Read more: http://www.tips-q.com/896035-breaking-marriage-bill-passes-maine-house-89-58

[JackBeck]

1. 89-58.

A few of us were posting updates during floor debate:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=129225&mesg_id=129225

[W_HAMILTON]

29. Sounds like...

...the Northeast still has some Republicans to "purge."

[xchrom]

2. recommend!

:applause:

[fight4my3sons]

3. link:

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/newsupdate.php?updates/update-house-passes-gay-marriage-bill

[cali]

4. hip, hip, hooray

great news. now VT, NH and ME have all legislated marriage equality. let's hope the govs in NH and ME aren't as much of an asshole as Governor Douglas.

[flvegan]

5. One step closer! Rec.

[jpak]

6. Dirigo

:thumbsup:

[Gormy Cuss]

11. ..

:thumbsup:

As Maine goes, so goes the nation.

[pleah]

7. K&R

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Yeah!

Finally saw the movie Milk a few days ago. I am going to have faith in the people of Maine and offer my services for grass roots activism in whatever capacity I am needed.

[customerserviceguy]

33. Incredibly powerful movie, wasn't it?

I'm very surprised that it didn't beat Slumdog.

It has the power to change people's minds about letting other people not like us have their happiness.

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. I haven't seen Slumdog yet, but after having seen Milk...

Slumdog better knock my socks off. I'm having a hard time imagining the film industry putting out something even better last year.

[customerserviceguy]

44. I saw both

and frankly, it surprised me to see a film win Best Picture, when not one of the twenty slots for Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress had a Slumdog actor in them.

Even Josh Brolin's portrayal of the evil Dan White was a complex portrait of the twisted mind of a killer. He deserved his nomination.

[snowdays]

9. its a beautiful day--

[Dogmudgeon]

10. I do think the tide has turned

And Prop 8 was the proverbial tablespoon of Ipecac that did it.

I'm sure there will be a FEW more victories here-and-there for the antis; and then, marriage equality will be the law of the land. So the "People's Veto" might even succeed -- once.

But it's not a sure thing any more. People don't like to hate other people, no matter how many pastors say that God wills it.

--d!

[handmade34]

12. hooray!

[JayMusgrove]

13. So, am I right that only RI is the one state in New England

That hasn't done anything about same sex marriage?

Or is there something going on there, too?

Mass is very happy with their court decision,now, because there has been not a single bit of trouble, (as had been predicted by the idiots), and Mass is now doing fine, (except the state is broke, but not related).

[No Elephants]

24. In Boston, I never hear anything about marriage, gay, hetero, good, bad, nothing. And I live

in a neighborhood with a lot of older Catholics who were upset a few years ago. Maybe one of the bright sides of the economy is that people are more focused on that than on the wedge issues, so this is a good time to get this stuff done?

Anyway, this is when the battle will REALLY start, so it's the time to volunteer and donate.

The neo theos have probably been phone banking in Maine already and will go door to door and do whatever they need to do to get the signatures to get this on the ballot. They will visit churches and organizations. And whenever they get anyone's ear, they will talk about things "teaching homosexuality in kindergarten" and whatever else they think sounds scary enough to get people to the polls to vote against marriage for same gender couples.

[Lerkfish]

14. hallejuah! this straight guy is deliriously happy! I hope this sweeps all the states

[mainer]

15. I think Baldacci will sign it

He's reliably liberal in most respects -- I can't explain his resistance to it, unless it's due to personal religious convictions. (I think he may be Catholic.) But surely he'll realize he can't veto this, not with such strong legislative support.

[No Elephants]

25. Is this his first term? If so, he may be worried about re-election?

[MaineDem]

27. No, he's in his last term.

He's not running for anything else. He's still uncommitted as of this morning. (At least publicly.)

It can still become law without his signature if there is no action by the Governor within 10 days and the Legislature is still in session (which it will be.) But I think that's a cop out for him.

[Skinner]

30. I agree. I think he'll sign it.

At very least, he might let it become law without his signature. But he won't veto it. No Democratic governor (particularly in New England) would want to be remembered as the person who had a chance to grant equal rights to Gays and Lesbians, and blocked it. He knows it's the right thing to do.

[MaineDem]

32. And he does have a great record re equal rights

He won't veto it.

[Rebubula]

16. Excellent

It has been a long time coming.

Now, we just need about 40 other states to follow suit.

[imdjh]

17. The fundies crack me up

"opponents are expected to organize a campaign under Maine’s people’s veto law to force a repeal referendum"

When a court decides for gay marriage, they say that it's oligarchy and the legislature should decide.

When a legislature decides for gay marriage, they say it should go to a popular vote.

But when it comes time to elect a president----- OH NO! NO POPULAR VOTE!

I really would like to take a baseball bat to these folks sometimes. I know it's not civilized, but I think it's a human response.

[Deep13]

39. Yeah, they crack me up when they're in the minority. nt

[MaineDem]

18. To fight the "People's Veto" please consider supporting EqualityMaine

http://equalitymaine.org/

You KNOW the other side will be well funded.

Thank you!

[No Elephants]

26. Thanks for that link. I donate to HRC, but I want to support this very specifically. P.S.

I just went to the site. It's a very good one.

[jefferson_dem]

19. Maine moves a step closer to allowing gay marriage (House Approval)

Source: AP

Maine moves a step closer to allowing gay marriage
The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 5, 2009; 1:50 PM

AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Maine Legislature has approved a bill that would make the state the fifth to allow gay marriage.

The bill faces one more vote each in the House and Senate before it goes to Gov. John Baldacci (bahl-DAH'-chee). He is a Democrat and remains undecided.

The House gave approval Tuesday after rejecting a proposal to let voters decide the issue in November.

Four other states allow gay marriage, three of them also in New England. They are Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa.

Maine would become only the second state to allow gay marriage through an act of a legislature.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050502020.html

[David__77]

20. What's the polling?

Baldacci better do the right thing and sign it. Too bad there'd be a referendum.

[fujiyama]

21. Those opposing it

are on the wrong side of history and are fighting a losing battle which they deserve to. But it's never too late to give up hatred. It's a lot easier in life to be tolerant and makes it a lot more interesting and enriching.

We are evolving to be a more just society with equal rights for all people. The Northeast seems to be leading the way.

[Deep13]

35. People are going to look at opponents like they now look at segregationists. nt

[Ohio Joe]

22. Congrats Maine! - K&R - nt

[bigwillq]

23. Sweet.

If it passes all the next steps, Baldacci better sign it.

[Soylent Brice]

28. that's awesome!!

[bertman]

31. One state at a time. YES!!!

[Deep13]

34. Yahweh is going to smite Maine...

...just like he smote (smited?) Iowa, Mass. and Vermont.

[BR_Parkway]

41. That the part that sucks about Jesus washing away the Old Testament

no one gets smited anymore. Can you imagine watching some of these Professional Christian Industrialists lying during whatever 'news' show about how the evil gays blah, blah, blah and they all of a sudden go up in a bolt of lightning and puff of smoke? Someone like Maggie Gallagher spouting her take on what God wants in the name of raking in the cash - Talk about a ratings boost!!

[Deep13]

42. I don't think JC washed away the OT.

Anyway, why let the fact that smiting never happens spoil a good scare tactic?

[Demoiselle]

37. Is there a veto override provision?

The Maine Senate passed the bill with a two thirds vote. The House passed it at 65 percent. It looks like a sure thing--at least until referendum time.

[Deep13]

38. I doubt a referendum will repeal it.

The legislature would not be acting if there wasn't popular support for it.

[MaineDem]

43. The Governor signed it today

There will probably be a referendum if the other side can collect 55,000 signatures within 90 days of the Legislature adjourning.

Polls run pretty 50/50 statewise so it will come down to GOTV efforts, as usual.

[No Elephants]

45. I bet they have most of the isgnatures they need already. They are so well-funded AND have people

more than willing to volunteer their hearts out--literally, if necessary. They overwhelmed Massachusetts. But, here, the Legislature had to take action within two sessions to get the question on the ballot. There was talk of going with civil union instead, but both equal rights advocates and the neo theos opposed it, forcing an all or nothing vote.

Bless its heart, the Massachusetts Legislature stalemated both sessions, so it never voted on anything. Win win. The question never got on the ballot, but no legislator can ever be singled out as having voted for it (or against it). Meanwhile, gay marriage was in effect the entire time, thanks to our Supreme Judicial Court, and most people who thought they opposed it saw no change in their lives at all.

Same gender marriage is now a non issue in Massachusetts, as far as I know.

Ruined the heck out of my marriage, of course, but it was worth it.

Oh, wait, that never happened. The only effect that same gender marriage had on me is to make me even happier to be in a blue state.

[Recursion]

40. Ah-can I get a hell yeah? NT