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Gov Lynch's statement

by: xcjm

Wed Apr 29, 2009 at 16:16:08 PM EDT
( - promoted by Jennifer Daler)

Was about to call Governor Lynch, and saw this on his site:
Gov. Lynch Statement Regarding Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Legislation
"I recognize that the issue of same-sex marriage is intensely passionate and personal, and raises strong emotions on all sides.

"I still believe the fundamental issue is about providing the same rights and protections to same-sex couples as are available to heterosexual couples. This was accomplished through the passage of the civil unions law two years ago. To achieve further real progress, the federal government would need to take action to recognize New Hampshire civil unions."

This looks like a veto promise? I hope not--let's get calling!
xcjm :: Gov Lynch's statement
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Gov Lynch's statement | 52 comments
Governor Lynch (4.00 / 3)
is correct that repeal of DOMA is necessary, and having all northeastern states and Iowa (more on the way) with marriage equality on the books is one way to ensure it happens
It seems like a much stronger argument for our delegation (4.00 / 1)
to make in DC, when they can say:

Washington, recognize our citizens' marriages!

rather than:

Washington, recognize our citizens' civil unions, which are really just the same as marriages according to New Hampshire law!


[ Parent ]
the catch22 of DOMA repeal is... (0.00 / 0)
...we certainly want the feds to recognize states' civil unions, but we don't want pols using that as an excuse for not extending full marriage equality.

lynch's position is quite rational so it's tougher to argue with. it basically leaves us with:
- separate is not equal
- respect the will of the people as expressed by the NH house and senate

there is 1 house rep. for every 1790 registered voters in NH, btw.

[ Parent ]
Does anyone read that optimistically? (0.00 / 0)
Would love to hear as much.
Yes. (4.00 / 1)
I think his MO on issues this third rail-ish is to do whatever is the least bold thing, thereby making as little stir as possible.  If he were planning to veto, he would have said so by now.  He knows a Democratic Governor can't veto gay marriage, and if he does, that will be his legacy.  I predict he'll let it pass, with or without a signature, and with a statement about how he doesn't fully agree with it but blah blah blah.
[ Parent ]
Some would say (4.00 / 2)
A Democratic governor can't appoint a Republican senator or Republican attorney general, or endorse a Republican candidate for state senate.

You might be right that he would have said he'd veto, and I appreciate you answering, but you haven't convinced me.


[ Parent ]
I don't have faith; I have a prediction. (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
OK (4.00 / 3)
I'm pessimistic, but maybe I read Blue Hampshire too much.
[ Parent ]
Now is not the time to be pessimistic. (0.00 / 0)
Now is not the time to complain about Governor Lynch.

Now is the time to fight for what's right.  There will be plenty of time to be discouraged and angry after he vetoes the bill. For now, let's spend our energy making sure he doesn't do that.

[ Parent ]
Neither complaining nor angry (0.00 / 0)
Just explaining my line of thought. I was optimistic earlier today, before I read the governor's statement.


[ Parent ]
That shouldn't have been directed solely at you; my mistake. (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
Yes, I do. (4.00 / 7)
The Governor has publicly pledged to veto:
  • An income tax
  • A sales tax
  • A death penalty repeal

It really doesn't seem kosher to suddenly discover that marriage equality belonged in that same category, all along.

And the distinction the Senate drew between religious and civil marriage provides an honest concession to honest opponents.

[ Parent ]
It's also a nice gesture to the civil unions for everyone crowd. (4.00 / 3)
There's a legitimate argument to be made that if so many people feel marriage is a religious institution, government shouldn't use the word at all.  It's unrealistic because of the interstate and federal implications, but it's a reasonable point.
[ Parent ]
More than not kosher, even (4.00 / 1)
When he's had a question about whether he'll veto something, he comes out and says he will. Pledging against the income tax and sales tax and declaring he would veto a death penalty repeal were not positions that would excite a large part of the Democratic base, but he did come out and say outright that he would veto them anyhow. If he meant to say he would veto this, I think he would have said that.

Only the left protects anyone's rights.
[ Parent ]
So Lynch isn't planning (2.50 / 8)
to run for another term.  
he won't be unseated for this - by either side n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Keep your eye on Landrigan (4.00 / 3)
Based on his track record with regard to this legislation, whatever outcome he projects--expect something else to actually occur.
I'll disagree somewhat (4.00 / 2)
When the bill was in the House, Landrigan did say that the GLBT community has a history of passing legislation quietly when others thought it was dead.  That was clearly a warning not to make assumptions.
[ Parent ]
Would he? (4.00 / 1)
He needs to know the fact that no politician has ever lost an office because of a vote for equal marriage.
And he's got to read the same polls as surely the senators did; a clear majority of NH people want fairness!  

No'm Sayn?
petty little troll rating, Ray (4.00 / 2)
at least have the ovaries to come out and disagree in public.  
Can we have a rule (4.00 / 3)
that paid political operatives cannot troll rate?

It would be honor system only.

[ Parent ]
I'm still for a "1: Very Strongly Disagree" rating. (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
hmmm (0.00 / 0)
The people who you want to be able to participate less than the rest of are the one who deal with these issues that we discuss the most?

Not that my opinion counts but that's not something I'd get behind.

How about a 1 "you may not be a troll but you're being obnoxious" rating?

Politics is a dirty game but if you don't play the bad guys win - Morgan Magnus Grey

[ Parent ]
John Lynch... (4.00 / 5)
...has been a good Governor on issues of diversity, and he has allowed the dialogue on marriage equality to evolve in the House and Senate, unlike a neighboring Governor who should be nameless and who will eventually be officeless.  

I trust that John Lynch will continue to listen to all New Hampshire residents, so please call.  He has the excellent option of allowing this issue to have been decided by the House and Senate, and let it become law without his signature.  

Let's give him room.  And let's remember we still have to also get the House to "concur" with the Senate amendment, which I'm hopeful it will do next week or the week after.  So let's keep talking with House members about the need for House Bill 436.  

who voted yes (4.00 / 1)
Are you planning provide a list of how senators voted?  I'm from out of state so I can't always find it in the news.

Born and bred in NH though so I am familiar with some of the players.

Senators (4.00 / 2)
D'Allesandro was the only Democrat to vote with the Republicans.  No Republicans supported equality.
[ Parent ]
But Lou Is A Good Senator... (4.00 / 1)
...who I think has some religious concerns, and is representing the religious concerns of the residents of his district.  I said several times that if a Senator has religious objections, I think we have to respect and accept that.  We are all the product of our faith.  If it's just politics, that's something else.  With all 10 Republicans, it was mostly politics -- at least with 3 of them who I think would have otherwise voted for HB 436.  Lou is one of the best in so many ways during his 40 years of public involvement.  
[ Parent ]
so if he takes his marching orders from the Vatican (0.00 / 1)
you're okay with that? I couldn't disagree more strongly, as I disagree strongly with pharmacists refusing to dispense birth control drugs on religious grounds. If he has religious issues that stand in the way of him treating all constituents justly, he needs to find another line of work...
[ Parent ]
Too funny! (0.00 / 0)
The idea of Lou taking marching orders from anyone, let alone the pope is riot.

What a totally bunk comparison. I agree that Pharmacists who have religious issues with dispensing birth control need to suck it up or not come to work but if their work asked them to vote on how they felt about birth control I would hope they would be given the freedom to express their opinion without fear of prejudice or reprisal.

When gay marriage passes I have every confidence that, although he voted against it, Lou will be the first person to recognize a legal gay marriage. That is sort of superior representation that Lou provides for both his district and the state of New Hampshire.

Lou has always been great on diversity issues. To cast him as some sort of hate and fear monger pushing his ideas on others or the sort of person who goes around supporting the pope before he supports the people he represents is ridiculous.  

Politics is a dirty game but if you don't play the bad guys win - Morgan Magnus Grey

[ Parent ]
Lou has been very good on GLBT issues in the past (4.00 / 3)
He supported us in adding "sexual orientation" to NH's non-discrimination laws, he supported us in repealing the restrictions on adoption and foster care and he supported us in creating civil unions.  To my knowledge, this is the only time that he has voted against the GLBT community.  If he had been the swing vote that killed HB436 in the Senate, I would be furious.  Since it's passed despite his opposition, I'm OK with weighing this vote against his past support and spending my energy focusing on the upcoming House vote and Governor Lynch.
[ Parent ]
I read it optimistically (4.00 / 1)
I can imagine a dozen ways to say that where he closes out an option not to veto. He left a lot of doors open in that statement.

I don't think Governor Lynch is going to be swayed by fear of electoral repercussions on this -- his motivation is he believes, wrongly, that this will be a distraction from his agenda. I think he is also aware that the White House doesn't particularly want this issue bubbling up right now either.  

I think the counter argument to that is that a strong Democratic party can be much more of a boon to a Governor pushing his agenda than the Republicans on this are a threat. The truth is the Civil Unions vote bought him quite a bit of leeway with progressive Dems two years ago, and I expect he knows it is the same here -- that we are willing to lump some stuff for this, to help out, to let some stuff ride, if we get this.



Governor Lynch (4.00 / 9)
will let this bill become law without his signature.

This has been my prediction from the beginning.

This release strengthens my belief.

The hurdle was the senate.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

Agree (4.00 / 1)

[ Parent ]
Our next hurdle is the House (4.00 / 2)
The House vote was VERY close.  We are going to have to work hard to get this bill to the Governor's desk.  Sometimes it comes down to who has a cold and stays home that day.
[ Parent ]
"Swine flu, hell ! (4.00 / 1)
Get out on the floor !"
[ Parent ]
True... (4.00 / 1)
...not done yet.  
[ Parent ]
I would agree ...but quite possibly ..... (4.00 / 1)
.... we may even gain a few votes this time around: due to (a) the revised language offering wavering representatives more cover and (b) realizing that they now want to be on the right side of history.


 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."
[ Parent ]
too optimistic (0.00 / 0)
hi everyone,
i'm new here, and i just wanted to respond to this and urge caution... while this is a celebratory day by many measures, we should not get ahead of ourselves only to be disappointed. call the governor. call your representative. donate to new hampshire freedom to marry. but don't let up now. this is not over. it's merely the beginning, unfortunately
[ Parent ]
Lynch's Contact Info (4.00 / 2)
If you're a resident of NH you should write, call or fax the Governor in support of this bill.  You can do so:

Office of the Governor
State House
25 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301

(603)271-2121
(603)271-7680 (fax)  

is it counter productive for non-residents to contact? n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
too optimistic (0.00 / 0)
hi everyone,
i'm new here, and i just wanted to respond to this and urge caution... while this is a celebratory day by many measures, we should not get ahead of ourselves only to be disappointed. call the governor. call your representative. donate to new hampshire freedom to marry. but don't let up now. this is not over. it's merely the beginning, unfortunately.
Governor Lynch (0.00 / 0)
Governor Lynch is a good person who cares very much about the people of New Hampshire.

Over the last few weeks, there has been some anticipatory criticism, first about the house, then the senate - some pretty negative stuff about some good people who are good public servants (or, as Hannah would say, agents of government).  I hope we don't start another round of anticipatory circular firing squads tomorrow!  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

anticipatory circular firing squads (0.00 / 0)
Waiting for the process to play out was agonizing and surprising and when it became clear that the Amendment was going to pass 31-11 emotional and uplifting. In a world of instant communication, I quote a saying I saw on Twitter yesterday..."tweet others as you would have them tweet you"

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other
[ Parent ]
For the most part (4.00 / 9)
I didn't see "anticipatory criticism."

I saw criticism after Reynolds cast her committee vote.

And I saw criticism of a lack of leadership after party leaders stayed mum on this issue while declaring positions on others.

None of that seems premature.

[ Parent ]
More than anticipatory criticism (4.00 / 6)
I have to disagree here about that.  The word "cowards" was slung around and there was considerable vitriole at times, especially after the committee vote.  There seemed little patience for allowing the process to play out and give folks space to arrive at a place that they were comfortable in voting in favor of this legislation.  

I realize that many of you have waited a very long time for equality.  And, you were well within your rights to contact your elected officials to express your views and opinions.  In fact, I would argue that you were all quite late in doing that in a coordinated fashion.  Cornerstone was driving their people out to call our home phone numbers (repeatedly at all hours of the day and night to the point where I would unplug my phone at times and finally resorted to leaving an rather brusque outgoing message on it).  Hundreds of phone calls, e-mails, letters and finally cards may well have had an effect on those who struggled with the decision.

Many of us work diligently to live with our own value systems while at the same time trying to represent the views of our districts.  If the overwhelming message is that your district does not want something or does want something, I would assume that has an affect.  

In any case, I would suggest that you consider "walking a mile in our shoes" before casting aspersions.  I found some of the rehetoric here and elsewhere offensive at times.  And, I definitely feel that the abuse (and there is simply no other way to put it) that Sen. Reynolds suffered was uncalled for.  It is fortunate for those who subjected her to that that she was ultimately able to become comfortable that the amendment satisfied her constituents' concerns while providing the equality that she clearly desired to support.  That sort of treatment might have resulted in simply pushing folks in the other direction.

This took courage on Sen. Reynolds' part and I hope that everybody recognizes that.  In the future, I would ask that folks on this site convey their opinions and wishes, but do it in a manner that respects the difficulties that any one of us may have on any single issue.  To do other than that can harm good people who serve you and all of our citizens well across a broad range of issues.

Jackie Cilley

[ Parent ]
Thanks for commenting (4.00 / 7)
Thank you for taking the time to comment here on Blue Hampshire. The more you and your colleagues in the Senate and House are able to do that the more we will understand process, what you are thinking, working on etc.

Post the awful hate mail you all have gotten, shine a light on it. Help us to walk the mile you mention.

BH is not a group like Cornerstone with funding etc. While coordinated effort like that might be able to come from the HRC or GLBT groups, BH will never be able to do things like that.

Also know that writers speak for themselves here. There is no collective "you". Again post, take issue with a diary, challenge a comment. All of it helps to grow the understanding of the issue at hand and builds trust.

I'm reminded of a line from the movie Jerry McGuire where Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character says something like "you think were fighting, and I think we are finally starting to communicate."

Thank you for your service to our State and for dropping by. We'd love to have you join our crew of regulars!  

Hope >> Fear





Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

[ Parent ]
Thanks for the explanations... (4.00 / 5)
And, I do drop by to see what hot topics folks have on their minds.  I just don't always feel the need to enter the conversation.  

Have a great day and enjoy the progress that was made yesterday.  Of particular joy to me was to discover that every medium that covered yesterday's floor remarks on HB 415, anti-discrimination of transgendered individuals, that I checked (several newspapers, WOKQ, etc.) none that I saw used the "bathroom bill" in their lead in or title.  Maybe on that front we moved the ball a bit.  

[ Parent ]
I agree in part and disagree in part (4.00 / 1)
I am so happy, and so proud, that Senator Reynolds chose to do what she knows is right in the Senate vote. That indeed was an act of political courage, especially in the environment that you describe of organized home calling and strong messages. Perhaps the Senator even voted as she did to galvanize those in favor of equality into greater public support. Indeed, her final vote and your statement indicate her support for equality—her statement after the Judiciary vote was, however, still clearly one of expediency, not courage, and not leadership. It was galling that she would not admit to this, even in the sense of "my constituents strongly oppose this legislation".

I simply don't believe, however, that calling a state Senator's statement about a committee vote an act of political cowardice rises to the level of abuse. I do believe that constituents (to the degree that Senators represent all NH citizens and residents) must be the privileged class in our political discourse. A passionate response from NH citizens to a representative's vote and statement is not the wrong thing, so long as it is delivered in an appropriate way; i.e., within our system of political discourse. I've only called Senators at their offices; I'm not particularly comfortable interrupting your personal lives in the context of reasonable discourse.

PS— Thank you for your strong support on 415! I'm sure we'll be able to move forward on that again soon.

[ Parent ]
separate is not equal (0.00 / 0)
In this debate over the merits of civil unions as opposed to gay marriage, let us not forget the lessons of history.  

In the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall successfully persuaded the Court to integrate America's public schools.  He did so not by relying on the argument that black schools were of inferior quality to white schools.  The core of his argument had a psychological basis with sound evidence - that having separate schools fostered a very real feeling of inferiority in black students.  They knew they had been separated because they were considered inferior.  This sense of inferiority crippled them, intellectually and emotionally.

Similarly, let us not assign gay people and straight people to separate "marital institutions" of civil unions or marriage, respectively.  If we accept the argument that we are all equal, regardless of our sexual orientation, then we are all entitled to be truly equal under the law.  The Supreme Court ruled in 1954, and eventually will again, that separate is inherently unequal.  

Shouldn't New Hampshire be on the side of right and ahead of the ball on this issue? Let us not be one of those states that the Supreme Court has to coerce to respect the fundamental rights for its citizens.

Required Reading (4.00 / 2)
Before Gov.Lynch gets to far ahead on this matter, he should read some comments in the UL.

What I am most interested in and will watch intently is the Pandora's Box yet to be opened when a homosexual couple files for divorce in the state of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire courts are so quick to persecute men for simply being men that the State's Marital Masters will have no idea which partner to discriminate against. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see what judgments come out of our state's divorce courts with regard to same sex divorces. Who gets the adopted kid or kids, who gets the house, who gets the dog, and most importantly who gets paid?

HORRIFIC DAY FOR NH! I'm shocked our legislators left their morals in the toilet and voted for this bill.

Our values, or what few we have left, has been based on God's word. Whether you are "religious" or not, you have values ingrained within you that are based on Christian values. NONE OF WHICH ARE TRANSGENDER OR GAY!

OR

I have always thought "marriage" should be between a man and a woman. But I have come to realize that whether a gay couple are just living together, have a civil union, or a marriage makes absolutely no difference in my life. What people do is their own business. And I am old enough to remember the taboo's on inter-racial marriage too. That never had any effect on my life either. So I guess I have no real reason to object.

I am immensely proud of my home state today. New Hampshire has always celebrated independence and a lack of government interference in the private lives of its citizens. The state Senate understood that tradition today and voted to allow hard working taxpayers to be treated equally under the law without government sanction. The Union Leader and an ever-smaller group of readers and constituents who still subscribe to its out-of-touch ideology will arguably condemn today's vote, but the rest of fair-minded Granite Staters will almost certainly understand their state is now on the right side of history. Kudos!

Let him cast his lot.  

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

well if he does veto, we have a nat'l spokesman for... (0.00 / 0)
...repealing DOMA, right? :)
Don't Take House for Granted (0.00 / 0)
All this talk about what the Governor will do is truly premature.  We should not take House concurrence for gratned.  This only passed by seven votes before, and you can be sure there will be tremendous pressure on the 12 (13 or 14 if you count all votes in the process)Republicans who voted for it.  They know they can't change me, so they won't even try, but of the group, I can count only one or two others who would not be tempted to switch.  If that happens, this will fail, even if a few Dems come aboard who were against us before, so I would urge you all not to demonize Republicans too much.  You're going to need ten or so of us.  Remember Kathy the S's two Democratic Reps weren't on board for this, yet she continues to spend much of her Ward 8 time demonizing me.

Steve (Kathy the S's least favorite gay marriage supporter)

[ Parent ]
Gov Lynch's statement | 52 comments

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