Rell Will Veto Same-Sex “Marriage” Bill
January 2nd, 2007 by Peter
McDonald, an openly gay legislator who shepherded last year’s law to legalize civil unions, guaranteed that his colleagues will take up gay marriage this session. Rell, who backs civil unions, has said she opposes gay marriage and would veto a bill.
“There will be several dozen legislators who will be co-sponsors of a marriage bill in Connecticut,” McDonald said. “I think the larger issue is trying to discuss and recognize the limitations of a civil union bill.”
The definition of marriage is personal and goes beyond politics, so he doesn’t know whether the Democrats would have enough votes to override a Rell veto, McDonald said.
The report on Gov. Rell’s position is notable for its directness. Even while criticizing civil unions in a Dec. 2004 interview Gov. Rell never said she would veto the bill. This time, on same-sex “marriage,” she has.
Sen. McDonald “guarantees” that same-sex “marriage” will come up this session and as one of the two “openly gay” chairmen of the Judiciary Committee he is in a position to make good on that guarantee.
But in light of Rell’s promise to veto same-sex “marriage” do McDonald’s colleagues outside of his committee really want to take this up? Even McDonald is unsure if, despite Democratic supermajorities, Rell’s veto could be overrriden. Given all the other issues facing the General Assembly this session the legislature risks a public backlash if it seen wasting time and energy on a bill that cannot be passed into law.
They also risk the public perception that their priorities are decided by powerful lobbyists rather than the people’s interests. The people may ask “With car taxes, electric rates, health care, education funding, the budget and taxes and many other issues on their plate why are our elected representatives wasting their time with same-sex ‘marriage?'”
Rell’s vow to veto should weigh heavily in our legislators’ minds. And Connecticut’s pro-family citizens will do whatever we can to make sure the bill never reaches her desk. Watch this space for more information on what you can do to help.
More from a 12/31 NH Register article:
GAY MARRIAGE
Connecticut’s civil union law, which offers gay couples virtually all of the same rights as married heterosexual couples, was approved two years ago. However, gay activist groups have already begun lobbying lawmakers to support a full gay marriage bill in 2007.
Rell, however, said she remains opposed to gay marriage. “I would veto the bill,” she said last week. “I still believe in marriage between a man and a woman.”
“Right now, it doesn’t seem to be on the radar screen,” Amann said of the issue of gay marriage. “We’ll have to see what happens.”
It’s nice to see Rell finally take a stand on the issue – even if it is too little, too late. Hopefully she won’t buckle.
The battle continues in Massachusetts as well:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/02/D8MDBAK80.html
Hopefully gov. Rell will stand up and face it fully and VETO it this time , she has very little back bone here ,
just VETO IT , this is ver serious issue. amongst other s not to be overlooked , ie healthcare , taxes , electric co’s , environmental concerns .
Lets get the boxing gloves on and kick but ,,, G-d Belss
So Governor Rell does not support true equality. How shameful… I thought we could expect more from her. By using her veto power she is standing against equality. We shall certainly remember this in the future.