N.H. lawmakers reject gay-marriage bill

[joeybee12]

Source: MSNBC

MANCHESTER, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers unexpectedly rejected a bill on Wednesday that would have made the state the sixth in the United States to authorize gay marriage.

The Democratic-controlled House voted down the bill in a 188-186 vote, hours after the Senate approved the legislation 14-10 along party lines. An earlier version of the bill passed the state's House on March 26.

Both chambers had been asked to approve compromise language that would have given religious institutions opposed to gay marriage legal protections, including the right to decline to marry same-sex couples.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30851193 /

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PHUCK!!!!!!!!!

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Would that be because the 'right to decline' language

violated the establishment clause, giving special consideration to religion?

It was a silly concession - because the state has no authority to force a religion to marry anyone in the first place - Their right to refuse is already enshrined in the establishment clause. If the state specifically grants a right to refuse, that tacitly says it can grant the right to enforce. The establishment clause says the state has no say in it one way or the other - just as the religion has no say in who the state permits to marry.

[TheWraith]

4. Probably. Last I heard it was clear sailing before that language got added.

The only roadblock was the governor, and it could become law with or without his signature, since NH doesn't have a "pocket veto."

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Totally agree with you

a case of politics over law. And largely because the bigots have somewhat successfully sold the notion that gov't would begin forcing their churches to marry gay couples.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

2. Personally...

I think that religious institutions should be removed from marriage. It should be a legal issue anyway. It's nothing to do with religion.

[keepCAblue]

3. A comment on towleroad.com disputes this...says bill not dead, just gov's demand for language change

#

Posted by: David Ehrenstein | May 20, 2009 4:15:34 PM

#

Marriage has NOT failed in NH. The House voted to negotiate the changes with the Senate (from the AP):

CONCORD, N.H.—A divided New Hampshire House has refused to go along with changes the governor demanded to make his state the sixth to allow gay marriage. Instead, it voted to further negotiate with the Senate.

The Senate passed the changes 14-10 Wednesday, but the House failed to agree later in the day by a vote of 188-186. Opponents tried to kill the bill, but failed. The House then voted 207-168 to ask the Senate to negotiate a compromise.

Gov. John Lynch said last week he wouldn't sign the legislation without language to better protect churches and their employees against lawsuits if their beliefs preclude them from marrying gays.

[KamaAina]

5. Take names!

Find out which reps flopped over for the religious wrong and target their sorry asses!

[Pab Sungenis]

6. Vote out every Democrat who voted against it.

We don't need or want them.

[David__77]

7. This isn't a defeat!

This is a delay so that a proper bill can be developed that will garner signature without unduly capitulating to "religious rights."

[xchrom]

9. recommend