Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has maintained that he opposes not only gay marriage, but the Vermont Legislature’s use of its time to debate and likely pass a marriage bill for same-sex couples. Today, in a press conference, he broke his normal policy of not openly speculating on whether he would veto a bill or not and told assembled reporters, “Because I believe that by removing any uncertainty from my decision we can move more quickly beyond this debate, I am announcing I intend to veto this legislation when it reaches my desk.”
Vermont Public Radio has audio of the announcement. Douglas says that he assumes leaders would not have put up the bill had they not been sure they could override his veto, which is true for the Senate, but an open question in the House.
Not an entirely unexpected announcement, but it’s infuriating to hear Douglas’ attitude that marriage equality is not a “real issue” and essentially a big waste of his and the government’s time. Somehow, we imagine that Vermont gays and lesbians aren’t going to take well to the Governor saying, “You don’t matter and we shouldn’t be paying attention to you, anyway.” It sounds like the Governor needs an education in the priorities and values of its citizens, right?
Christopher
…and the question is answered. Another Republican gov halts progress. =(
tavdy79
Chances of Jim Dougless winning the next Gubernatorial race? About as slim as Yury Luzhkov (Moscow’s mayor) ever winning “LGBT Ally of the Year” from the HRC.
geoff
What a douchebag! Any chances of there being enough votes in the legislature to override him? I’m not from there but I really hope things work out.
strumpetwindsock
Fucker.
Smokey Martini
He’s a dick.
Chris
I don’t know what is more insulting, the fact that governors (Douglas is neither the first nor likely the last) don’t even wait until all the information is available before they make a decision, which clearly flouts the purpose of checks and balances, or that the people accept this type of gamesmanship from their elected officials.
Why is it that the people of California saw fit to remove Grey Davis from office when he couldn’t fix a budgetary issue he didn’t start, but Schwarzenegger (sp?) is re-elected after he repeatedly blocks policy and legislation, generally along party or myopically ideological lines?
I sincerely hope the people of Vermont are not as lackadaisical as Californians and insist that the governor support honest legislation that has been fully vetted by the legislature. Even if they do not force him to sign it, I hope they force him to come up with a better reason for his veto than the legislature has better things to do with their time.
Doesn’t he have better things to do than standing in the way of progress?
GayIsTheWay
Contact Vermont House members TODAY and encourage them to vote YES on gay marriage.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/e-mail2.cfm?Body=H
We need all the votes we can get to override a executive veto.
rogue dandelion
he is about to be proved irrelevant i hope
Forrest
What a bastard. The bill has sailed through the VT Legislature. The process has been the exact opposite of a distraction. Signing it would be quick and painless. He does not have an issue with Civil Unions. Marriage is the logical next step, equally unharmful and in keeping with the state’s progressive mindset.
I just don’t understand.
*shakes head 🙁
Jaroslaw
So much for my theory Vermont was a land of “live & let live” (from another post I did here on a different topic).
I will send a regular paper letter to his office just to give his secretary something to do. Should I send in a pink or lavender envelope? Maybe we all should. Flood his office.
rae
can congress overturn the veto?
pc
If he follows through, this fucktard should expect gays and lesbians around the country to flood his opponent with funding when he goes up for reelection.
Brianna
What a slap in the face. Come on, New England, you’ve been doing so well.
Cam
Ok so wait, in Vermont they wouldn’t pass Megan’s Law to punish child molesters, but the Governor is going to attack gays?!?!?! What the hell is this guy’s belief system.
Marriage between consenting adults = Bad
Punishing people who attack Children = Bad
Just who is this guys voter base? Hetrosexual, Child beating, Evangelicals?
Jersey
I have read time and time again that the veto would probably be easily over-ridden. Anyone know if it was true or boasting?
Brianna
Wait…is this the end? Or can we still hope? I have a rudimentary understanding of politics.
Bruno
What a bastard.
Well, the question is if the Vermont house has enough votes to override his veto…the senate we already know has more than enough votes to do so. I’d say it’s about 50/50 right now.
vermonter
There’s a rally Friday at the statehouse. Info at the VT freedom to marry website. If you’re anywhere in/around Vermont and can make it we need you.
Mad Professsah
Well, it’s not unusual for Governors to issue positions on pending legislation. it’s sort of curious we haven’t had a marriage bill in front of a Democratic Governor yet.
I seriously doubt that a veto would result!
Jeff
Doesn;t matter
His VETO will be overturned
Michael
In order to overturn the veto, the legislation must pass by a two-thirds vote in both houses.
The Gay Numbers
So we are certain there are enough votes for an override?
Brianna
@vermonter:
looks like this is the website:
http://www.vtfreetomarry.org/
In case any vermonters didn’t know about it.
I’m not in vermont, so I won’t be there.
vermonter
senate yes. unfortunatley not sure about the house.
Bruno
@The Gay Numbers:
I’ve been thinking about this, and the governor was probably right to say that this bill wouldn’t have been “fast-tracked” if they didn’t believe there was a veto-proof majority in the Assembly. We know that if ALL Dems and Progressives in the Assembly vote in favor, they will have the veto-proof majority they need. Coupled with the fact that half the Senate Republicans voted for it, and I think we can say there’s even more than a 50/50 chance this bill will be veto-proof.
I still think Vermonters should give Douglas a piece of their mind, even if his veto proves useless.
donsnyc
ASSHOLE!
Brian
At least he did say that he thought Congress should approve a federal civil unions law. It’s little comfort to those of us who know that civil unions are “almost, but not quite” marriage, but at least he’s not completely against us.
BrianZ
So funny that these people are the same douchebags (love that word!) who want to cry on about “activist” judges. If all these repressed straight people value marriage so much they should outlaw divorce and make adultery a crime punishable by jail time. The sanctity of marriage my ass.
And, uhm, eww, doesn’t he look like Larry Craig?
Bill Perdue
All politicians are hustlers who bend and often break the law.
Find something to impeach him.
Bill Perdue
@Christopher: …and the question is answered. Another Republican gov halts progress. =(
Just like Democrat Bill Clinton who not only signed DOMA but boasted about it to get bigot votes to get reelected. And just like Obama torpedoing same sex marriage with his infamous comment “gawd’s in the mix” who said it to pick up bigot votes.
The differences between Democrats and Republicans in office is that some resemble the American Landrace breed and some the are Angeln Saddlebacks. But they’re all pigs.
Rick
He’s like a sad high school principal. “those damn longhairs!” we are not about to change the dress code !!
jim
@BrianZ: LOL, thanks, thought it was just me seeing a SCARY resemblance to Larry Craig here. Looks like the gov didn’t get his daily dose of Metamucil, lol
Patrick
@Rick: OMG! It just popped into my head after reading this. Equality marriage is like the new “Footloose”. We’ll hold that dance no matter what these old foggies say!
Rowen
So, he’s bitching that the congress is spending “too much time” on this issue. And even though there’s plenty of support for the bill, he plans on vetoing it, forcing the congress to spend even more time on the issue. . .
And this makes sense to him.
InExile
RIP HIM TO SHREDS, REPUG ASSHOLE FULL OF HATE!
Attmay
Impeach the breeder pig fucker!
Chuck
Always makes me wonder… The Christians seem to be so against loving couples and yet, let’s look at what Jesus Christ said on the subject. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yes, indeed that is exactly what JESUS said… Jesus said NOTHING. Yes, Jesus Christ said NOTHING about homosexuality or Gay marriage and at a time when the Romans were marrying same sex couple and yet Jesus (most Christians think Jesus and God are one and the same, so the all knowing) And he says NOTHING!!! So it makes me wonder.. if it was of NO issue to JESUS, then why would it be a issue to anyone else??? Seems the world would be a better place if we all live our lives as Jesus did. (I think a lesson the Christians could sure live by) Very simple here… treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself. Would you want your marriage voted on?? Who’s next?? What’s next?? If were voting on marriage then whats next??? Why not vote on slavery?? Or ban blacks from marrying white people?? Say it can not be done??? It’s being done right now. In Nazi Germany, the Christians said… “it’s okay because they’re JEWS and they supported Hitler, In America the Christians said “It’s okay because they’re BLACK and supported SLAVERY, with the help of Abraham Lincoln the slaves were free, but they were at it again in the late 1950’s when blacks wanted to legally marry whites. ( I know seems bizare now) but the Christians fled to the streets with their bibles and professed if blacks were allowed to marry whites, this would RUIN marriage, thankfully the government stepped in, because had it been left to the will of the people, it would still be illegal for a black man to marry a white woman. Today the Christians are at it again… today they say… it’s okay because they’re GAY!!! Which is so funny considering Jesus said NOTHING at all, so why would the christians be so concerned?
Well, I’m here to tell you, it was NOT okay in Nazi Germany and it surely is not okay in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA in the year 2009!
I think if anything, we should expose the Christian agenda for the past 2000 years and expose them for whom they really are. It should be illegal for them to do the things they do. Heck, Saddam threatened the rights of Americans and we went to War… the Mormons do it and we do NOTHING??? It’s time to educate Americans and expose these hate groups for whom they really are. Nothing more then modern day KKK… truly … nothing more and they should be exposed and jailed for their crimes against American citizens. (I’m serious)
Jaroslaw
Chuck #37 you make a good point that I never thought of. I often say Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality, but in light of the fact the Romans and Greeks had legal same sex marriages, prostitution, boy/man arrangments, he certainly SHOULD have IF it was as an important part of Christian doctrine as one would think it is today.
BUT you will never win with the fundamentalist Christee Crazees anyway, so I guess it is moot.
Jason in WV
Closeted Conservative Sonsabitch!
Some Guy
But gay marriage IS a marginal issue. Like it or not, this decision really doesn’t affect very many people. Vermont, and the US as a whole, has far bigger problems to deal with right now.
Bruno
@Some Guy:
So why not let the issue be over with by not vetoing the bill and letting it become law? As it is, he’ll prolong the issue when it comes up again in years to come. He’s L-Y-I-N-G.
Charles J. Mueller
@Some Guy:
“But gay marriage IS a marginal issue.”
And thank you for your gay(?) contribution to the marginalization of a group that is already marginalized by the homophobic heteros, the fundies and the folks with magical undies. *sarcasm font on*
As the old lady said when she peed in the ocean, “Every little bit helps”.