After passing a gay-marriage bill last week in the Senate, the Maine legislature has now passed a similar bill in the House with a vote of 89-58. This is likely to make Maine the 5th state to recognize same-sex marriage (6th, if you include California).
The bill will now head back to the Senate, then on to the Governor's desk. It is still unclear if Governor John Baldacci will sign the bill. Go Maine!
UPDATE: The D.C Council has voted 12-1 to recognize marriages performed in other states. This could take the gay-marriage discussion directly to Congress, as they have a 30-day period to evaluate all laws for the District.
– Andy
That is a pretty nice majority, based on recent comments by Baldacci, I would be surprised at a veto.
the other consideration for laws in the district is, because of certain parts of their home rule charter, if they pass a law like this, the Feds will have to abide by it, or else risk having to leave DC. I was living in the area when DC passed a non-discrimination law based on all sorts of things, including sexual orientation. THE FEDS BALKED AT THIS, AND THEY WERE POLITELY TOLD- “FINE- THEN GET OUT OF OUR CITY! Maybe Maryland or Virginia will want you…”
I heard news from someone over the weekend that New Hampshire had also passed a law allowing same-sex marriages, all that was needed was the governor’s signature. Was I misinformed?
You were, the person must have confused ME and NH. In NH it needs to go back to the House, and then I think the Senate again before reaching the governor.
Thanks for the info, E-man! Good to talk with a guy that seems to have his head properly oriented so that he sees things coming before they smack him in the face! If you are half as hot as the way you create messages on here, all I can say is, WOOOOOFFFFF!
and E-man, you were right about the governor signing. I believe that the governor of NH was quoted as saying if the bill came to him\her s\he would sign it, as well.
No, he has said that Marriage is between a man and a woman, though he has not definitely promised a veto( or a signature). But the majorities in NH were MUCH slimmer.