“A Vermont legislator plans to introduce a bill to allow gay marriage in the state that first approved civil unions for same-sex couples. State Sen. John Campbell, a Democrat, says he will sponsor the bill in the legislative session beginning in January. He acknowledges it is unlikely to gain ground unless Gov. Jim Douglas signals support. The Republican governor said Thursday that the civil union law is sufficient but wouldn’t say whether he would veto a gay-marriage bill.” [AP, earlier]
(Full) Equality Coming to Vermont?
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fredo777
Anyone saying that civil unions are sufficient probably would veto a marriage bill, particularly if those are civil unions in the far-less-legal-benefits sense of the term.
EuroDubliner
I find it so strange that Vermont has a Republican governor, given that it votes in a proud socialist senator.
Though I guess the parties in the US aren’t as rigidly defined throughout the country as they are in European states.
Still, good to see movement on this in another US state. Let’s hope it passes.
Michael
Totally misread the headline. I thought it was something about the Harry Potter villain. Stupid saturday morning.
John in CA
@EuroDubliner: Minority government – often referred to as “divided government” – is very common in the United States. In fact, the voters here seem to love classically “bad” government. There’s a rather quaint notion among many Americans that inefficiency and gridlock will result in more personal freedom. An idea that simply wouldn’t fly in Europe (where a government must command the confidence of lawmakers to remain in office).
As is the case with Vermont, having a Republican governor alongside huge Democratic majorities in a state legislature isn’t uncommon. The governor will still appoint ministers and other bureaucrats to run the state government. But he or she has no control over the legislative agenda. Moreover, both sides must come to a compromise when it comes time to deal with the budget.
EuroDubliner
@John in CA:
Thanks John for your comment. Yes there is a huge gulf in the way one views the government between those in Europe and America.
Here we really look to the government to change society and help us with creating a better quality of life.
Yet there seems to still be quite a number of layers of democratic apparatus at the disposal of Americans, probably more so than for Europeans. And enforcement of laws appears to me to be more successful. One example is dealing with corruption.
The use of initiatives is beautifully democratic in some ways. Though very fascist on the other hand, like Hitler’s abuse of them when he ruled.
It’s tragic the world over that human rights are still at the behest of bigots and nosy parkers rather than decided on a logical basis by courts or ancient Greek lots.
But we’ll have to live with it. Or not, as the case may be.