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D'Allesandro Reaffirms Anti-Marriage Position

by: Dean Barker

Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 21:34:08 PM EDT
Drew Cline noticed that the 14-10 Senate votes on the added language Lynch wanted for the marriage equality bill were one vote higher than the original 13-11 vote on the amended HB436.

So he asked Lou D'Allesandro if he had changed his mind about marriage equality:

"Nope, absolutely, I never changed my position. The amendments created a position in which the churches are protected. It was going to pass, so these were put in place to give protection to the entities that weren't going to participate.

"I'm very much in favor of civil unions. But I've always been against gay marriage. I'm a traditionalist. I believe strongly that marriage should be between a man and a woman."

I agree with Drew's conclusion. If the Senator really believes committed gay couples are not worthy of the name "marriage", he should have voted against. As he himself says, it still would've passed.

This just makes him look weak.
Dean Barker :: D'Allesandro Reaffirms Anti-Marriage Position
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D'Allesandro Reaffirms Anti-Marriage Position | 7 comments
Duck and cover (0.00 / 0)
How does the Lord Our Savior feel about gambling?

Is the good shepherd leading his flock to the slots on the Seacoast and North Country?

Seriously, is religion and faith a spigot that can be turned off and on again when cover is needed?  

Render unto Caesar's Palace.... n/t (4.00 / 5)

[ Parent ]
:( (4.00 / 1)
Passing judgment on someone else's relgious beliefs is a little below the belt.  In any event, I don't remember being taught in catechism that gambling was a sin. I actually cut my teeth on bingo at church fairs; not to mention the great raffles.  

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    
[ Parent ]
About Senator Lou D'Allesandro (4.00 / 4)
I think it was 1970 or thereabouts that I first met Lou D'Allesandro at the State House.  Through the years we've worked on many issues at the same time, often on the same side.  When he ran for Governor during his Republican years, I was a sideline cheerleader for him.  

I have great respect for him, despite our disagreements on some issues.  On Civil Unions, he was there when we needed him, and his help made a difference when it got to the Senate.  On House Bill 436 this year, he gave us a chance to make our case.  I appreciate that he listened, but he had a strong conviction based in faith that Civil Unions did the job, and that "marriage" should be different.  I have to respect the decision he made.

He's been for expanded gambling for as long as I've been for equality for gays and lesbians, and he has yet to convince me to vote for his proposals.  I'm not opposed based on faith convictions, but I just don't think we should expand gambling.  I assume he respects my opinion on that.

That he voted for HB 73 and clearer religious protections was meaningful.  It helped us get more House support at the crucial moment for the bill, and we needed that to finalize the Governor's signing of HB 436.  Lou saw that HB 73 WAS a different issue, and I much appreciate his support.  

In my book, Lou D'Allesandro is an excellent State Senator.  Right now, his heart is in the right place in his work on the budget.  We need him to protect many important programs for people.

Agree 100% n/t (0.00 / 0)


Democrats solve problems, Republicans sit and say no.
[ Parent ]
Also agreed (4.00 / 2)
HB73 addressed issues with which Sen. D'Allesandro agreed, so he voted for it. Hb436 was the opposite, and he voted accordingly. Obviously, I disagree with him in his views on gay marriage, but he was honest about his views, and I think voted his conscience. I disagree with those views, but I don't believe his vote was politically motived, and I trust that he considered it carefully before making it.

Please, please, please don't let us turn into Republicans, driving out everyone who doesn't tow the party line completely. Especially on an issue that has already gone in our favor.

[ Parent ]
There is the luxury of actual separate bills. (4.00 / 1)
...and this was a really good thing about the nature of the process this legislature followed. That's how I think of it.

HB436 was the bill legalizing marriage equality.

HB73 was a separate bill enacting religious protections with regard to marriage equality which the legislature had already passed.

Senator D'Allesandro voted his conscience and faith on HB436, and also his conscience and faith on HB73. If they had been contained in the SAME bill, we would only see a no vote.

It actually teases out some interesting and important distinctions for this politician, and allowed him the opportunity to vote for things he believed in that helped a cause with which he otherwise disagreed.

Would that all legislative processes were so educational, for both legislators and constituents.

[ Parent ]
D'Allesandro Reaffirms Anti-Marriage Position | 7 comments
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