HB73 PASSES!!!

Just went to Foxnews.com (0.00 / 0)

Last time they were immediately blaring when the vote failed. This time....not a peep. HA!!

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by: HarlemUSA @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:20:34 PM CDT

My speculation: (0.00 / 0)

It's hard to blame a bunch of people.  When the legislature turned it down, Fox could say "it's not what the people want."  When the legislature passes it, it's contrary to the message.  They'll wait until Lynch signs it and then blame him.

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by: ThatTallGuy @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:35:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sadly, (0.00 / 0)

I guess they decided to cover it, abeit not exactly loudly. The story's the top story in the Politics section on the front page (*not*, I note, on the Politics page.)

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by: ThatTallGuy @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:59:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

GOOD JOB NEW HAMPSHIRE! (0.00 / 0)

EQUALITY FOR ALL!

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by: Blanco @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:23:31 PM CDT

My God. My home state has come a long way. (4.00 / 4)

BILL & NACKEY LOEB.... EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:26:55 PM CDT

Johnny B what up with dat? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:38:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I need mary jane for my eyes... (4.00 / 1)

./.

sorry  :-)

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 19:52:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh yeah. I would love to have seen Bill's reaction to this. (4.00 / 2)

I know this isn't the time to gloat, but, but...

I bet Bill Loeb's rolling over in his grave.

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by: Karen @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 19:53:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Congratulations, New Hampshire for doing the right thing. n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: hannah @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:35:54 PM CDT

Yes!! (0.00 / 0)

This is great !! Thank you to everyone who put time and effort into making this happen - this is a huge victory for NH and the entire Northeast

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by: gad22 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:37:47 PM CDT

Equal rights sweeps (0.00 / 0)

across the great northeast,
while the old Confederacy remains
the only right wing stronghold.
One nation? Really?
Shoulda let 'em go! It's not too late.

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:32:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Considering that I am now resident in Georgia, on of the (4.00 / 1)

original thirteen colonies, I resemble that opinion.

The state was progressive but has been going backwards recently.  Atlanta is just now in the process of demolishing its public housing.  Considering that public housing in Georgia seems to have been constructed as a subsidy to industrial enterprise (keeping the workforce close to the factory, like the plantation system of old), there's reason to be ambivalent about it.

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by: hannah @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:30:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pretty substantial margin (4.00 / 2)

198-176. Very impressive compared to past votes. Excellent work!

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:39:56 PM CDT

The fact that the sky didn't fall in previously ..... (0.00 / 0)

.... gave some wavering, nervous legislators the courage to cross-over, I think. They know the train is leaving the station and wanted to be on the right side of history.

 What's more surprising to me: Lynch wants to sign it right away? I thought he'd do so in secret.
 

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:22:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

tears of joy (0.00 / 0)

and thanks to all here and everywhere who worked for this day.

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by: beverlywoods @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:40:53 PM CDT

NY IS PROUD OF YOU GUYS! (4.00 / 2)

Way to lead by example!!!  Thanks for all of your efforts and for helping to pave the way for other states.

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by: CDunn @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:42:57 PM CDT

Man... (0.00 / 0)

5:15 is taking forever to arrive!

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by: Blanco @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 15:48:26 PM CDT

This will reverberate to California for sure. This gives them the momentum they need! n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:04:42 PM CDT

Don't forget Maine n/t (4.00 / 1)

Whack-a-mole, anyone?

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:07:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Vermont is proud of you New Hampshire! (4.00 / 3)

From Green Mountain Daily.

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:07:31 PM CDT

Arrogant Monters (4.00 / 4)

Typical of Vermont to be passively condescending about New Hampshire. They should try having to overcome an enormous influx of conservatives from Mass diluting your state's move toward progressivism over the past few decades, and then rub in that they beat us by a few short months. By the way, wasn't New Hampshire's bill filed first? And weren't we the first to support same-sex unions without court pressure? Just a point. I love Vermont, and think we work best when we work together, but the attitude held by many there that Vermont has it all figured out without having to deal with any issues that states larger and more diverse (imagine! New Hampshire being comparably large and diverse) than itself gets to be quite annoying.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:18:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Not you, NH Ex-pat (2.00 / 2)

but the way that post is written on GMD is what irked me. Anyway, I shouldn't get so worked up, especially on such a good day.

And just to recall Robert Frost on New Hampshire:

She's one of the two best states in the Union.
Vermont's the other. And the two have been
Yokefellows in the sap yoke from of old
In many Marches. And they lie like wedges,
Thick end to thin end and thin end to thick end,
And are a figure of the way the strong
Of mind and strong of arm should fit together,
One thick where one is thin and vice versa.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:28:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I gotcha... (0.00 / 0)

.. but I trust what  Julie wrote was just a little friendly competitiveness. If I were still living in NH and read what Julie posted, I would've laughed it off. I don't think it was arrogant in any way shape or form.  

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:08:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yo FrankLloydMike... (0.00 / 0)

The amazing thing about New Hampshire is there are more Republicans and Dems that were not really on board with marriage equality. There were a helluva lot more votes the Dem leadership needed to secure its passage. IMO, that takes a lot of effort. That should be commended.  

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:43:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You're right... (4.00 / 2)

I don't know the writer, and it was probably friendly. I think that attitude exists in Vermont in some, but probably very few. All good points, and as a fellow ex-pat (now a Mass resident), I should probably get used to teasing my home state, as I did long ago to my adopted one. Hope you're enjoying freedom and unity!

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 19:36:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Toi Aussi! n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:38:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sorry, if... (4.00 / 1)

...a little friendly mockery got you all riled up.  It was all in good fun.  Boy, you New Hampshire people are really oversensitive.

juliewaters.com

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by: JulieWaters @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:02:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ya think? (4.00 / 2)

Said the Masshole.

Whack-a-mole, anyone?

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:32:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Also sorry (0.00 / 0)

Haha. I think the view held by many outsiders of New Hampshire as a conservative backwater in a progressive region sets some, myself clearly included, up to be a little oversensitive and jumpy when people overlook the progressive trend. Sorry about that. I love Vermont, and I'm glad our politics are following those from across the border, even if the lag time is frustrating.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 19:38:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

*grins* (0.00 / 0)

I live in VT but work in NH, so I get to see both sides fairly clearly.  Both states are really quite awesome in their own way, and they both have their share of insane, right wing, lunatic fringe wingnuts.  

NH is one of my favorite places to vacation.  We've done some great trips there, and there are some wonderful places to go looking birds.  It makes me very happy to know that once my sweetie and I are married, we'll have more or less the same rights in most of the places we like to vacation.

juliewaters.com

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by: JulieWaters @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:02:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

WOOOOOOO- (4.00 / 8)

HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

(shortened so as not to cause posting issues)

Oh happy day.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:14:18 PM CDT

Congrats (0.00 / 0)

Well done everybody.

Massachusetts welcomes this news and welcomes you to the family.  

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by: cjfb @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:17:15 PM CDT

Three cheers for Jim Splaine! (4.00 / 8)

The man behind the scenes!

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by: Mormo @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:32:05 PM CDT

Jim ? (4.00 / 1)

Oh that's right - he can go back to being the Protector of the New Hampshire Primary.

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by: elwood @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:59:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

congratulations from Hungary, Europe (4.00 / 3)

I've been following the path that led to marriage equality in NH on this site. I'm happy for you. Congratulations, Granite State!

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by: Hungarian @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:35:40 PM CDT

Roll Call of Changes (4.00 / 4)

There was a 24-vote swing between the previous vote and this one.  Profusely thank the 18 new Yea's, wink at the 12 reps who voted Nay the first time and stayed away today, and castigate Rep. Pratt for switching his vote away from equality.

HB 73, 5/20 vs. HB 73, 6/3:

NV -> Yea (+12 net votes)
Baroody, Benjamin
DeJoie, John
Katsiantonis, George
Komi, Richard
Laliberte, Suzanne
Matheson, Robert
McMahon, Patricia
O'Brien, Michael
Petterson, Don
Rosenwald, Cindy
Russell, Trinka
White, Andrew (new!)

Nay -> Yea (+12)
Beauchamp, Roger
DiFruscia, Anthony
Dokmo, Cynthia
Gleason, John
Owen, Derek
Vaillancourt, Steve

NV -> Nay (-5)
Bridle, Russell
Hess, David
Ingersoll, Paul
Ryder, Donald
Tahir, Saghir

Yea -> NV (-5)
Burridge, Delmar
Grassie, Anne
Hamm, Christine
Hutz, Sarah
Price, Susan

Nay -> NV (+12)
Carlson, Nancy
Garrity, Patrick
Haley, Robert
Jeudy, Jean
Katsiantonis, Thomas
Rhodes, Brian
Rokas, Theodoros
Soucy, Timothy
Sullivan, Daniel
Van Patten, Don
Wells, Roger
Wendelboe, Fran

Yea -> Nay (-2 BOOO!)
Pratt, Calvin

Sources:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.u...
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.u...

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by: davidmac2003 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 16:47:12 PM CDT

in the UK slang dictionary (4.00 / 1)

prat: Noun. A fool, idiot or objectionable person. Originally meaning the buttocks.

sanctimonious purist/professional lefty

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by: susanthe @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:03:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just got back from bill signing (4.00 / 8)

When I saw the press announcement, I grabbed one of the people I work with and said, come on, we have got to go see history made, and we flew off to Concord.

It was great! A lot of whooping and hollering, and Governor Lynch gave great remarks before signing. I was very happy with his mention for the need to do something at the federal level.

A lot of people, like Mo Baxley, can go get some sleep now - after they celebrate!

And now I will go back to work!




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

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:01:00 PM CDT

Mo , Jim and everyone else in the effort have earned a place in the history of civil rights-- (4.00 / 5)

what Barack Obama called in New Hampshire on January 5, 2008 , "the improbable story of America" has a new chapter, and our friends wrote it.

"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 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:20:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Same here! (0.00 / 0)

I was at Shaw's when I heard it was going to be that soon, so I ran on up to the corner office to watch!

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

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by: RealNRH @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:00:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thanks Kathy (4.00 / 10)

There should be a special shout out for  Mo Baxley, the Executive Director of NH Freedom to Marry. She's put her heart and soul into this issue for the last 5 years.

She's worked so hard that she's worked her way out of a job.

Brava, Mo! Take a bow - you deserve it.  

sanctimonious purist/professional lefty

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by: susanthe @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:05:47 PM CDT

Go Mo ! n/t (0.00 / 0)

for transparency sake ~I represent Union print shops

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by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:35:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Live Free or Die" is not just a brand name. (4.00 / 1)

After Californians passed Prop 8 last November, I predicted that we would have marriage equality in New Hampshire before it comes back to the Golden State in 2010.  My state does not disappoint.

Other states will have marriage equality, and some already do.  Other states will institute it by the will of the majority, without the need for court intervention, and some already have.  But New Hampshire has the unique distinction of having its majority vote over and over again to recognize the rights of a minority, and doing so after having narrowly put George W. Bush in the White House less than a decade ago.

Today is a very proud day for the great State of New Hampshire.

--
No tea; no decaf.

@DougLindner

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 17:34:42 PM CDT

So, what's next? (0.00 / 0)

What can we do to ensure that when Republicans gain power again that they will not take all of this work and equality away? What can we do to ensure that a Prop 8 won't hit New Hampshire? And most importantly, what can we do to ensure that hateful and misleading ads do not run on our television or radio stations?  

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by: gad22 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:01:07 PM CDT

Well, we don't have (4.00 / 1)

referenda in NH, so a Prop 8 type thing is out. And to ensure Republicans don't take equality away, we have to keep electing Democratic majorities in the legislature and Democratic Governors (and Executive Councilors) for years to come. I'd say about 40. Really. Until 2006, there hadn't been Democratic majorities throughout state government since 1874, and no Democratic majority in the State House of Representatives since 1911 or thereabouts. The Republicans had plenty of time to govern. We deserve a long stretch as well.

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:08:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Swings (0.00 / 0)

Some day Democrats won't be in the majority; what we need to do is make sure marriage equality is so widely seen as a non-issue that anyone who wants to repeal would be looked at like a crazy person.
But as for the ads, that is free speech, nothing you can do about them running.

Maybe the out of state anti-equality people will pick up their wallets and move on from NH now.    



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

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 19:51:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

While there will undoubtedly be swings in party control, (4.00 / 1)

it is unlikely that opposition to marriage equality based on gender will have much resonance when people see that giving others equal rights doesnt really hurt them a bit. In 1967, 17 states outlawed inter-racial marriage when the Loving case ruled miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter only the truly whacked and racist ever mentioned the subject.

Speaking of Loving, the US Supreme Court held that laws criminalizing inter-rational marriage were unconstitutional denials of Due Process of Law and Equal Protection, saying:

Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State. "

All you have to do is substitute "gender" for "racial" to see the constitutional violations inherent in laws forbidding same sex marriages.

"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 @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:58:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Taxation Equity ;-) n/t (0.00 / 0)

Hope > Fear




Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

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by: Mike Hoefer @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 22:02:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was there in spirit (4.00 / 6)

but, unfortunately, my butt was in Manchester, working itself off.  I got to hear both votes and parts of the debates via BlackBerry.  Thanks to John DeJoie for clueing me in to the start of House debate so that I could listen in.  

When I found out the signing would be at 5:15, I made Doug break every speed limit to get me to the State House on time.  The Executive Council Chamber was packed, but one person needed to be there.. I called Putney Swope on my cell phone and held it aloft so that he could hear the Gov's speech.  After the bill was signed, I spoke these words to him, "you are now free to marry".  Those were the most wonderful words I've ever spoken to a friend, ever.

Still a little verklempt.. but anxious to get on to the next fight.  

Why do you say socialism like it's a bad thing?

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by: Beth Campbell @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 18:49:37 PM CDT

They did it Beth, they really did it. (0.00 / 0)

I'm gonna wake up tomorrow and realize it wasn't a dream. It was real :)  

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:39:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We love you Beth (4.00 / 2)

Bill and I both love you - and thanks for letting me listen to the signing!

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by: Putney Swope @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 21:49:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

i just want to say: (4.00 / 1)

job well fucking done.
thank you my straight friends: without all of you, none of this would have happened. thanks for opening your minds, and, really, opening your hearts.
rep splaine: indispensable. irreplaceable.
nhftm: this is the result of your hard, long work: congratulations!!!!
and to the countless, behind-the-scene workers: be gay! it's a beautiful day! :-)
the fight is not over though, guys. celebrate tonight. get ready for another round mañana: new york, new jersey, maine, california, washington, washington d.c., illinois, michigan... until the feds recognize our dignity, and our equality.

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by: daftdaoud @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:20:17 PM CDT

Vive la Liberté, vive l'Egalité! n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: Vis Unita Fortior @ Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 20:55:09 PM CDT

just one minor detail (4.00 / 1)

When the motions for a roll call were made on the last two HB73 votes, just about all of the supporters rose to second it and none of the opponents did.  Perhaps, this was because the Republicans didn't want to go on record on being opposed to marriage equality.  (But maybe this was just usual partisan behavior.)

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Jun 04, 2009 at 11:02:04 AM CDT

I noticed that too. (0.00 / 0)

I don't know what's normal, but I didn't see that with the other ~dozen roll calls yesterday.  

To me, it seemed like those reps wanted to emphasize their support.  Sort of a substitute for a hearty Aye in a voice vote.  

And I gotta say, given the sweltering conditions, making the effort to stand up was no small gesture.  

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by: Karen @ Thu Jun 04, 2009 at 14:31:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]