Gay Marriage Bill Passes in The New Hampshire Senate

  I wrote just last week about how the New Hampshire Senate Committee voted against recommending the gay marriage bill to the senate by a three to two vote. One of the nay votes in the Senate Committee changed positions so the bill was sent to the senate  and today the senate voted on gay marriage; it passed 13-11.

  Now is where it gets real interesting. There was nobody happier last week, and nobody more disappointed this week, than Governor John Lynch. The governor claims that he is opposed to gay marriage but he has been feeling pressure from a legislature that grows more liberal with every passing election. Governor Lynch was happy last week because the decision on gay marriage was taken out of his hands, but now he will have to make a decision on a tough issue and he doesn’t like to make hard decisions.

  New Hampshire’s civil unions law gives gay couples every single benefit that heterosexual couples have, Governor Lynch signed that legislation and he still believes that it is adequate. But here is his latest statement on gay marriage:

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.”

  He did not say what he would do when this bill arrives on his desk. He has three options, sign, veto, or ignore the bill. If he chooses to ignore the bill it will become law without his signature.

  During the civil unions debate the governor also refused to say whether he would sign the bill or not before finally signing it. But because this was such a tough issue and as I stated before the governor doesn’t like facing tough issues he signed the bill in secret inviting only a few supporters of the bill as witnesses to avoid protesters before slinking out the back door for the weekend.

  Judging by the way he handled the civil unions bill I am going to predict that the governor will let this legislation become law without his signature. That we he can straddle the fence. It is too politically volatile for him to either sign or veto the bill. He risks losing too many votes no matter what he does. All I ask of him is to show a little courage one way or the other. Take a stand.

  Stay tuned…..