Hawaii civil-unions bill quashed in House: measure killed in election year

[Bluebear]

The state House, conflicted by emotion and election-year politics, voted yesterday to indefinitely postpone action on a civil-unions bill.

The voice vote, which came after no debate, essentially kills the bill this session, since it would require a two-thirds majority to bring the bill back for consideration.

Gay rights activists in the House gallery shouted for a roll-call vote on the motion, and when lawmakers quickly moved to other items on their agenda, several screamed "Shame!" as they walked out of the chamber...

But only a majority of House lawmakers were prepared to vote for the bill yesterday, an indication that political pressure from religious conservatives, including thousands who rallied at the state Capitol earlier this month, had worked....

(Gov.) Lingle (R) said lawmakers did the right thing for the state. "I understand there are real strong feelings on both sides, and so people would like to just get it settled, and get it resolved," she said. "I just have felt from the beginning of this year that we needed to keep a clear focus on the economy. Note: Because they are incapable of doing more than one thing at a time, evidently.

"I'm glad we can just stay focused on that. There's still the issue of our schools and the furlough issue out there, so we have some really serious things we need to work on together."...Note: Because equal rights are not "really serious".

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100130/NEWS03/1300335/Hawaii+civil-unions+bill+quashed+in+House

Hate rally flyer: (But wear white! And bring a canned good for the hungry!)

[glinda]

1. Republicans dream to turn Hawaii into a State filled with hate. Then take it and

it's resources over. Sorry. I am disgusted and needed to vent.

[Starry Messenger]

2. So much for "It's just the word marriage that's the problem".

The churches have made a lot of inroads in Hawaii. This sucks.