NH House approves gay marriage

[kpete]

Source: Associated Press

Mar 26, 12:33 PM EDT

NH House approves gay marriage

By NORMA LOVE
Associated Press Writer
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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The House has voted to make New Hampshire the third state allowing gays to marry two years after they granted them the right to enter into civil unions.

The House voted 186-179 to send the bill to the Senate. The first attempt to pass the bill fell one vote short, but opponents were unable to kill it. The House then reconsidered and passed the measure.

Two years ago, the Legislature approved civil unions for gays, but some proponents of joining Connecticut and Massachusetts in allowing marriage said the time isn't right in New Hampshire.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_XGR_GAY_MARRIAGE_NH_NHOL-?SITE=NHMAL&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[cali]

1. Fantastic.

So glad to see the change in heart's and minds. Yeah, I know that Lynch will probably veto and there's no way to override, but this signifies real change. Way to go NH.

[t0dd]

9. But

Lynch is a democrat. Doesn't that mean there is a greater potential for him to NOT veto the legislation? As opposed to Jim Douglas, anyway...

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. A bit off topic but... the NH House has 365 representatives?!

Washington State, which is larger both geographically and demographically, has only 98.

And good news on this, by the way. I hope the governor will sign the bill if passed by the state Senate.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I love that!

Lots of citizen legislators.

[nichomachus]

7. I think it's 400

Most of them are unpaid -- which means they are retirees, housewives, people who can take time off from their jobs (read insurance salesmen, real estate agents, etc.)

There is one representative for every 3,000 people in NH. If the US had the same type of representation in Congress, there would be almost 100,000 members of the US House.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[Soylent Brice]

4. now they'll need to deal with the governor.

awesome news though!

[Tempest]

10. He already said he will veto the bill

And there's not enough votes to override him.

[t0dd]

11. No

He never said he would veto it.

"Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, is opposed to gay marriage, though he has not indicated whether he would veto the bill."

[Tempest]

13. You're right. I was thinking of Douglas in Vermont

Douglas said he would veto the bill in the Vermont legislature.

[t0dd]

14. And its a different story in Vermont..

The 2/3rds support has already been achieved in the Senate. If 100 of the 150 Vermont House Representatives support the bill, his veto threat will be meaningless. And this is definitely a possibility. I contacted every member of the House Judiciary Committee last night, and a republican representative, Patti Komline, responded to my email saying she would be supporting the bill. Let's just keep our fingers crossed!

[Soylent Brice]

12. that's what i was referring to. read that this morning.

didn't realize they were short on votes for an override though. i always though NH was much more progressive. i know VT and ME are.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Great "Step One" news!

[Solly Mack]

8. K&R