Vermont Same-sex Marriage Bill Passes House 95-52, short of the 100 majority to override veto

[t0dd]

:-(

However, at least two DEMs have said they will switch their votes if there is a veto...

From Vermont Freedom to Marry ( http://www.vtfreetomarry.org/ )

S. 115 Clears Next Hurdle! Final Vote Tomorrow

In front of a packed house chamber, the Vermont House of Representatives voted by an overwhelming margin to support the freedom to marry. The vote total was 95-52.

After working most of the day on the appropriations bill, the House turned its attention to S.115. Our elected leaders debated for five hours before a packed chamber of Vermonters -- mostly supporters of the freedom to marry. They told stories about their constituents and their own lives. Many spoke straight from the heart. In the end, they cast their votes one by one.

Today's vote was groundbreaking. The 95 yes votes exceeded even our own expectations coming into this session, and are a great foundation for the looming override battle. The final house vote on the bill is tomorrow. We encourage you to attend.

After the final house vote tomorrow, we expect the Senate to concur with the House amendments before promptly forwarding the bill to the Governor. The override vote may come as early as Tuesday.
...

[ruggerson]

1. I feel like we're Charlie Brown with the football

Lucy always somehow manages to yank it at the last second.

[t0dd]

2. And it sickens me..

that there were a number of democrats that voted against the bill. *sigh*..

[bluedawg12]

4. That is a common story and where we need to focus our energy

the turncoat Democrats. :grr:

[customerserviceguy]

3. I guess what you need in VT is just a decent Governor

And while it might take a bit of time to get one, with a vote like that, you are not facing the prospect of a "marriage defense" amendment that already stains the constitutions of thirty states.

[Tab]

5. I'm not too surprised

Most of Vermont is pretty liberal. Particularly places like Burlington, Brattleboro, Middlebury, etc.

There are some sections (Springfield and Rutland come to mind) and in particular a strip of road near Corinth (outside of Montpelier/Barre) - when they first legalized unions, or at least proposed legalizing them, a large number of signs cropped up - all quite similar in style (not to mention message) - black block lettering on a pure white background - and they all said "Take Back Vermont" - often hanging on barns or whatever of (presumably) old-time Vermonters.

A friend of mine who is gay came over to have dinner with my family once, and had to travel that route to get to our house (we don't live there any more) and he lives up in Stowe, but he was struck by the large number of "Take Back Vermont" signs he saw - he didn't realize there was that much antipathy in that area.

FYI, "Take Back Vermont" was the opposition cry when the civil unions were first proposed. As far as I know, the signs still persist today and the people up there have no qualms about publicly and high visibly showing their opinion about the movement.

So I wouldn't be surprised if representatives of some of those areas were following what their electoral base was making noise about.

[FreeState]

6. There is still hope

This was the vote after the second reading, the third reading is Friday.

[cali]

7. Agreed.

I'm pretty bummed by this vote, but hoping that we can get those 6 votes today- and that they hold through the asshole's veto.

[FreeState]

9. We did not get them today (got 94 - one was absent from yesterdays vote)

however they are going to try next week to overturn it and say they have dems that voted no (11 total) that will switch then to override the veto - I dont know how many they have though....

[DianeK]

8. Can you tell me who the two Dems are that are

willing to switch their votes?