Vermont State House set to vote on marriage
The Vermont State Senate has approved a bill that would grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A pro forma second vote reaffirmed the 26-4 vote that the body cast last week and means that the bill will now move to the State House for approval. Though the governor has threatened to veto the measure should it pass the House, supporters are optimistic that next week’s House vote could yield a veto-proof margin.
Openly gay State Rep. Bill Lippert said he is “confident” the bill will pass the House next week.
“The question is how many votes,” said Lippert. “I think the strength of the bipartisan vote in the Senate increases our momentum going into the House.”
The margin of victory in the House will be important, noted Lippert and gay attorney-activist Beth Robinson, because the state’s Republican Governor, Jim Douglas, has indicated he is opposed to gay marriage. He has not stated that he will veto the measure, however, and that’s the wild card in next week’s proceedings.
Both chambers of the Vermont legislature are led by a Democratic majority. The 26-4 vote in the Senate can easily overcome a veto, and supporters are hopeful about achieving a veto-proof majority in the House, too.
