Mass. Legislature to Vote on Marriage Amendment Tomorrow

Nov. 7 Boston Herald story on a new poll showing majority in Massachussetts believes state marriage amendment should be put to a vote, but that almost two-thirds would vote "no.":

"State House News Poll results released Sunday show 56 percent of respondents say that when the Massachusetts Legislature meets in Thursday's Constitutional Convention, members should advance a ban on gay marriage. However, if the ban reaches the ballot, 63 percent of poll respondents would vote against it and 31 percent would vote for it.

The Legislature had met in July for a Constitutional Convention but never voted on the controversial measure. On Thursday, the proposal must get 50 votes - 25 percent of the state's 200 lawmakers - to advance to the next legislative session. It would have to pass by the same margin in 2007 to be put on the 2008 ballot."

Boston Globe story today on Democrats gain ground in Massachusetts legislature.

Another Boston Herald story Nov. 8, "Gay-wed supporters rest hope on Patrick":

"With the state House and Senate set to vote tomorrow on whether a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage should be on the ballot in 2008, gay marriage supporters are counting their blessings that Democrat Deval Patrick is headed to the Corner Office.

"I think that Deval Patrick's victory helps greatly because legislators know that Deval wants to move on to the issues that he ran on," said Marc Solomon, campaign director of Mass Equality, which supports same-sex marriage. "Deval Patrick is unapologetic in his support of marriage equality and his opposition to a marriage amendment."

A spokesman for Senate President Robert E. Travaglini confirmed yesterday that he will call for a vote at tomorrow’s Constitutional Convention on whether the ballot question should go before voters.

Gay marriage opponents, however, said Patrick's victory shouldn't make a difference.

"The vote on Thursday is by the current incumbent legislators. We proceed according to the constitution and we hold the vote," said Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute. "The current legislators are firmly committed to us. It's very bipartisan. We have both Democrats and Republican legislators. We don’t expect any changes in those votes regardless of who is elected. . ."

posted by maggie at 12:28 PM VOTE

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