We have to be prepared to counter the 'repeal HB 436' effort

The Repeal Of House Bill 436... (4.00 / 2)

...is something we have to take seriously.  I think we'll be okay in the House, and certainly in the State Senate, but we have to try to get as many votes as possible to defeat the repeal of House Bill 436.  If we are able to get a substantial vote against the repeal, it will be a clear message to our opponents in November, 2010, that this is an issue that has been decided, and it's time to talk about other things.

Democrats this upcoming Legislative Session are going to continue to talk about jobs, the economy, education, health care, needs for our senior citizens, support for working men and women, helping families, and making sure that we have a balanced budget.

Wouldn't it be so good if the Republicans would finally join us on meeting the needs of all New Hampshire residents, instead of rehashing hate and fear and discrimination?  Our opponents have bashed our New Hampshire citizens long enough.

Thanks, Putney, for your post and link.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Wed Dec 09, 2009 at 22:08:07 PM CST

All eyes on (0.00 / 0)

New Jersey right now.

What's fascinating to me is how similar NY's and NJ's situations are to what NH's was, in terms of everything hinging on a few Democrats who should know better.

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 05:21:18 AM CST

Let's in particular take notice (0.00 / 0)

of any candidate for the General Court who runs against it.

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 05:42:12 AM CST

The libertarians and the conservatives both do a good job of compiling voting records on key issues that are important to them.. (4.00 / 1)

And given the size of our legislature, it is hard for people to keep track of who votes for what.

It has been a few years since I recall seeing a good job on something like this from the left. At some point in the summer or fall, it might not be a bad idea to put together a guide to votes on  issues that BHer's think are important. I am not advocating a purity test or a rating system, just an informative record of votes on important issues.  

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 19:33:18 PM CST

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I was told to get married early next year (0.00 / 0)

A state rep half seriously told me to get married early in 2010.

They said 'You never know what will happen to the repeal bill.'

We have to watch our backs on this one.

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by: Putney Swope @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 05:45:41 AM CST

Faith in the Governor? (0.00 / 0)

Waivering, it would seem.


www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 10:00:07 AM CST

The Governor Is Strongly With Us (4.00 / 3)

Governor John Lynch made his decision to sign House Bill 436 after weeks of self-analysis and talking with many people.  He's strongly with us.  I have much confidence that we will keep House Bill 436 from being repealed -- although in politics, you just never know, and we do know the votes on HB 436 have always been close, with victory decided by just a vote or two.

However, we as Democrats should want to see November, 2010 be a discussion about jobs and the economy, education and meeting the needs of people, and not a re-hash in some of the House or Senate districts about marriage equality.  By having a strong vote against repeal when the issue comes up in Legislature this coming January or February, we can put this issue behind us.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 10:17:48 AM CST

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There it is (4.00 / 1)

In a nutshell:

we as Democrats should want to see November, 2010 be a discussion about jobs and the economy, education and meeting the needs of people, and not a re-hash in some of the House or Senate districts about marriage equality.

Free Advice - Be nice to your safety net.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 10:38:01 AM CST

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I Worry That Afghanistan... (0.00 / 0)

...will greatly negatively affect us in November, 2010.  Be nice to those who raise warnings.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 11:45:54 AM CST

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There is no shortage of warnings (0.00 / 0)

The slate is clear for your FULL support because you will not find a single NH Dem running for office that has not expressed reservations over the current policy.

Phew. And I thought you were gonna be a fly in the ointment. ;v)

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 11:49:24 AM CST

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He won't be Governor forever. (4.00 / 3)

But I hope he and others take a few things into account:

1. Governor Lynch already signed HB436 and the accompanying legislation. It was the right thing to do, and he deserves our continuing praise and support for having done it.
2. New Hampshire is a tolerant and accepting state, in which support for marriage equality need not be hidden.
3. Whatever votes the Governor may have lost in doing the right thing on this issue are not coming back.

It is in the best interest of the state, and of Governor Lynch's electoral future, to stand firm on this issue, to publicly threaten to veto a repeal.  Those voters who are committed to marriage equality will support him for doing the right thing, and those committed to opposing it won't have their minds changed by keeping the door open to repeal.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 11:41:21 AM CST

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Process question (0.00 / 0)

How many votes would repealers need?

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by: JimC @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 10:27:42 AM CST

Good Question (4.00 / 1)

In the House, we can stop them by holding onto our votes on HB 436 from last Spring, but it would be nice to add 25 or 50 -- getting all the Democrats and some Republicans would do that.  The issue this time will be to take rights AWAY from people who will be getting married effective January 1st at 12:01 AM.  

If the repeal were to pass the House, I think we'll win in the Senate.  Either way, I believe Governor John Lynch would veto any repeal effort, and it would take a 2/3rds vote of the House and Senate to repeal.  

In my mind, our work in January and February on defending HB 436 will make our work in November a little easier, and should there be a repeal effort in 2011, we'll be even stronger.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 11:50:59 AM CST

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we want to kill the repeal bills outright (0.00 / 0)

We need a majority in both chambers of the General Court.  Ideally, that means 201 House members and 13 Senators. (Actually, we only need 200 in the House, since when the bills come up for vote, Jeff Goley's or Dave Boutin's House seat will be vacant because one of them will be a newly elected State Senator, unless of course Terry Pfaff wins both the primary and the main election.)

The Governor would hopefully veto any repeal bills if they get passed, and that veto would absolutely not be upheld--- but it is much better not to let things come down to a veto.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:13:18 AM CST

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Tim -- You're One Of The Heroes On This Cause... (0.00 / 0)

...and with your help, we'll win big.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 11:22:45 AM CST

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oops (0.00 / 0)

I mean that the legislature WOULD uphold a veto of a repeal bill.  The repeal bill would need a 2/3 vote in both chambers to survive a veto.  

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 12:04:13 PM CST

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Springsteen backs Gay Marriage in New Jersey (4.00 / 2)

h/t Halloran

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
TRENTON, N.J. - "The Boss" is backing gay marriage in the Garden State.

Bruce Springsteen posted a statement on his Web site urging support of the gay marriage bill that's up for a vote in New Jersey's Senate on Thursday.

Springsteen wrote that he's long believed in and has "always spoken out for the rights of same-sex couples."

The native son says he agrees with Gov. Jon Corzine that marriage equality is a civil rights issue.

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Dec 10, 2009 at 11:40:29 AM CST

The defeat of marriage in NJ can have a major impact in NH (0.00 / 0)

From the Baptist Press: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.a...

"If "gay marriage" is defeated in New Jersey following losses in Maine and New York, Brown said, it could have a major impact on conservative-leaning states -- such as Iowa and New Hampshire -- where "gay marriage" is legal. Pro-family groups are working to elect likeminded legislators in those states in 2010 to reverse the state's new marriage laws.

"What we need to do now is go on the offensive in places like Iowa and New Hampshire," Brown said. "In New Hampshire, the legislature forced same-sex marriage on that state and didn't allow a direct vote. We're going to make sure that every single voter in the state of New Hampshire knows which way their legislature voted. I'm confident that as they know that, you're going to see a lot of people losing their seats coming 2010."

We have to take this seriously.

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by: Putney Swope @ Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 05:54:56 AM CST

Thanks Putney... (4.00 / 1)

...and we'll be prepared to take this on in January-February because we NEED to be prepared. We've been putting together our legislative strategies for the past few weeks, and will be working during the next few.  For those who want to join in the fight, let me know.  We have much to do.  jimsplaine@aol.com

We can do this.  We already have.  (And marriages begin in 20 days, or in slightly less than 495 hours as of the time of this comment, if anyone's counting!)  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 08:06:39 AM CST

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