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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


7.25.2007

 

Changing topics

Legislative leaders Gaye Symington and Peter Shumlin held a news conference this morning to announce they're launching a commission to study how Vermonters feel about gay marriage.

If I had told you all that these two were holding a news conference today and asked you to guess the topic, I'm guessing that gay marriage would not have been among your first five guesses. We have, after all, been spending a lot of time of late hearing about energy, campaign finance, how incompetent the other side is.

But gay marriage it was. The 10-member commission will hold six public hearings around the state about the issue and report back to the Legislature by the end of April 2008. That means it will not be an issue for the 2008 legislative agenda.

At the news conference, VPR reporter Ross Sneyd, who used to attend such events with pad and pen but now shows up hauling a duffle bag full of electronic equipment and wears headphones that make him look like he's launching a space shuttle, smartly asked the question of whether this puts the issue on the 2008 election agenda. Shumlin contended the issue would be there for 2008 presidential and other races whether they had put this commission together or not.

Here's the list of commissioners:
Tom Little, former GOP state rep. from Shelburne, chairman
Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor
Rep. Johanna Donovan, D-Burlington
Former Rep. Michael Vinton
Former Rep. Helen Riehle
Former Sen. Mary Ann Carlson
Berton Frye of West Danville
Former Gov. Phil Hoff
Johnson State President Barbara Murphy
Episcopal minister Nancy Vogele

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Terri,

Did anyone ask Pete and Gaye how they feel about gay marriage?

Are they in favor or opposed?

If they are in favor, and feel it's the right thing to do, why launch a commission? Why not just go to work on legislation?

????
 
What wonderful news. Here goes another session down in Montpelier that is going to be a waste of money. Todays Free press has an article about shotfalls projected in tax revenue, no surprise there. And now this. Does Shumlin and Symington actually go out of their way to waste tax payer money or what? Now you know why I left the Dem party! Waste of time! They won't work on real issues such as jobs and education.
 
It's official now, Peter Shumlin has lost all grip with reality. I don't have strong feelings about gay marriage, but I have to say - this just looks like another attempt at dodging the real issues facing Vermont.
 
Is there anyone on this commission who thinks that civil unions have been working fine and that there is no need to stir up the hornet's nest of gay marriage?

I can already see the campaign fund-raising letters that will go out to the LGB community following the appointment of this commission.

This issue is not going to help the 2008 Democratic candidate for governor win votes in Franklin County, Barre City and Town, and Rutland City and Town, and it could lead to the GOP picking up a few House seats in those places. On this issue, Rob Roper can let Peter Shumlin and Gaye Symington do his work for him.
 
Wow,another blooper! Would somebody please take these two aside and explain a few things about leadership to them?
 
As I read the list of commissioners, it looks like a very stacked group and pretty obvious where they are going to (supposed to?) come out. There's a couple of names I don't recognize, but this obviously isn't a "bi-partisan" group. There's no one that I immediately recognize as a conservative or even a moderate. What's the point?
 
The point? It's for us to take over the world! It's time for it to truly rain men! We're going to take down that American flag and raise the rainbow flag! And we're going to teach some real values in the schools! Woohoo!
 
Tom Little is a moderate conservative.
 
More hot air!
 
They must have completely lost their mind now!
 
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