Leaders seek to kill gay marriage ban

[Mr_Spock]

Goal is recess without a vote

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | November 9, 2006

"House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and others on his leadership team who support same-sex marriage are rounding up votes to derail a proposed ban on gay marriage scheduled to be discussed today in Constitutional Convention, sources said yesterday.

Legislative sources said that DiMasi is pushing to get enough votes to force today's convention to recess without taking final action on the amendment, a move that, if successful, would kill the proposal and prevent it from appearing on the 2008 state ballot.

Senate President Robert E. Travaglini, who will preside over the convention, said yesterday he would entertain a motion to recess or adjourn, even before a vote is taken on the marriage amendment. His comments appear to be a shift in his position from earlier this year, when he said he intended to make sure a recorded vote was taken on the amendment.

..."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/11/09/leaders_seek_to_kill_gay_marriage_ban/

Some good news on this issue...

(edit - now with link)

[David__77]

1. Excellent news.

There is no need to allow this to proceed. Nothing compels the legislature to push it forward to the ballot.

[superconnected]

2. Wonderful way to top off the week! Hope it works.

[Tesha]

3. A smart guy like Travaglini can count votes...

> {Travaglini's} comments appear to be a shift in his
> position from earlier this year, when he said he
> intended to make sure a recorded vote was taken on
> the amendment.

A smart guy like Travaglini can count votes; the pro-
equal-marriage folks won lots of them on Tuesday and
the anti-equal-marriage folks lost lots of them, so
letting the old lame-duck spoilers vote now might not
be the politically smartest move for Travaglini in
the long run.

Tesha

[Mr_Spock]

4. People are out protesting in front of the state house now

Debate is raging in Mass.