Ehrlich Vetoes Gay Rights Bill (Maryland)

[bertha katzenengel]

By John Wagner, Friday, May 20, 2005; 2:50 PM

Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has decided to veto emotionally charged legislation that would grant unmarried couples, including gay partners, certain rights if they register with the state.

~snip~

"Phone calls are pouring into our office from people across the state who are shocked, hurt and dismayed at how such a moderate piece of legislation conferring basic human rights could be rejected by a supposedly moderate governor," said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, a gay-rights group that lobbied for the legislation, known as the Medical Decision Making Act of 2005.

Ehrlich won praise from a leading Republican lawmaker for making a "principled decision."

~snip~

A group of conservative activists had launched a petition drive in recent weeks that sought to repeal the bill if it became law. They argued it was part of a "homosexual agenda" advancing in Annapolis.

~snip~

"I'm sympathetic to certain situations, particularly end-of-life situations," Ehrlich said during a radio interview on Baltimore's WBAL. But he said that the bill had flaws and that letting it become law "is just something I have to weigh."

~end~

SONOFABITCH!

[BR_Parkway]

1. Bastard, I hope all of his kids turn out gay, just so he has to deal

with the realities of the situation, we're not fucking political pawns and I'm tired of hearing ReThugs talk about my goddamned agenda. I have one now - ending their stupid intrusion into my life so they can keep filling the fucking church pews, collection plates and campaign warchests.

[bertha katzenengel]

7. Well said. eom

[Debbi801]

2. There's a shock...

Not!

Gee, I wonder if slots had been approved whether he would have still seen all the "flaws" in this bill.

I so hope he gets removed from office in 2006.

Debbi

[leftofcool]

3. Annapolis homosexual agenda advancing................

OMG! They are right around the corner.........somebody stop the advancing agenda. (sarcasm) Ehrlich is a homophobic asshole and I am being nice.

Left of Cool

[Shallah Kali]

8. OH NO! Beware the Homosexual Agenda! They are coming to get you!

Lock up the women and children and mules!

Oh wait, it is the rw & the fundies that are out to force us to practice their beliefs. Oops sorrya bout the mix up!

[demnan]

4. The bastard has an "R" after his name so what do you expect

Marylanders take note, there are no "moderate" Republicans.

[yellowcanine]

5. This is just plain meanness. He could have let the bill become law and

the wingnuts in Maryland would have let it slide though they would not have been happy. Apparently he thinks he has nothing to lose by bashing a group of people who are the only "group" that it is still ok to discriminate against in the U.S. He has made the cold political calculation that the small gain he might get from the wing nuts in more enthusiastic support of his candidacy in 2006 is worth more than the well being of a group of people he obviously feels no compassion for.

[aintitfunny]

6. What an asshole he is

It was a great law they passed, this is pure unadulterated spite and meanness on Erlich's part. Can't wait to get him voted out.

[Olney Blue]

9. Ehrlich has to go.

:toast:

To our new Democratic governor!

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Well, hello there, Olney Blue.

Welcome to DU. :toast:

[Olney Blue]

11. Thanks!

I've been lurking a long time- I read DU every night for hours- thought it was time to join the fun!

[Cha]

18. Welcome, Olney Blue!

:toast:

Definetly Fun to put your 2 Cents in!

[Moderator]

12. kick to combine

[Nancy Waterman]

13. Ehrlich vetoes gay rights bill (MD)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/20/AR2005052000862.html

I am hoping this was a politically suicidal thing to do. I hate this guy!!

Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. vetoed a bill yesterday that would have granted rights to gay partners who register with the state, concluding after weeks of intense deliberations that the legislation threatened "the sanctity of traditional marriage."

The emotionally charged bill was among 24 that Ehrlich (R) rejected yesterday afternoon, including legislation to raise the state's minimum wage by $1, allow early voting in elections and heighten oversight of the state's troubled juvenile justice system. Another measure sought by gay rights activists that would have extended a property transfer tax exemption to domestic partners was also scuttled.

Ehrlich's decision to side, almost without exception, with business interests and social conservatives surprised some analysts, who thought he might try to burnish his credentials as a moderate by allowing some of the session's more controversial bills to become law.

Most of the legislation vetoed yesterday had been strongly opposed by Republican lawmakers. But Ehrlich's appeal to swing voters was key to his 2002 election in a state where registered Democrats still hold a nearly 2-to-1 advantage.

[MissWaverly]

14. Please how we can vote Ehrlich out with current voting machines

I voted for Kerry and had the machine default to GWB 5 times, I'm afraid this will happen in 06, since the state assembly is thinking
about election reform, (thinking and thinking), I really do not want
Ehrlich for governor for a 2nd term, they won't even raise the minimum wage by $1.00, that really tells you how much the Republicans are into "giving" but if it was a trillion dollars for a new defense system for BWI, well, it would have been approved instantly. As far as veto of the gay rights bill, I do not understand how liberty and justice for all gets translated in Republicspeak as liberty and Justice for those we like.

[Cha]

15. What a world..

"with current voting machines"!

We need to hear loud and clear how this happened to you and there must be others who were affected, likewise,by the voting machines in 2004!

I would have freaked out as I'm sure you must have, too!

[MissWaverly]

16. Yes, but the trolls keep reminding me I can't prove it

I can't prove it, but I know it happened and it worries me that
the State Assembly canned the bill on election reform, Oh, they
think it's a good idea, but they're going to come up with something
better, someday.

[Cha]

17. Well, I believe you!

Doesn't Maryland have Democratic Legislature Majority?

[MissWaverly]

19. Well, it does but many are dems in name only

I was really surprised when the election reform bill sank with a thunk. Thanks for believing me, it's really sad to have your vote
stolen, I waited 2 hours to vote, I just want the nightmare that
started in 2000 to end.