burlingtonfreepress.com

Sponsored by:

vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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


3.24.2009

 

Marriage bill a distraction?

This morning, the Senate gave its final approval to the same-sex marriage bill with barely a whimper of dissent in a voice vote.

All in all, it did not take much floor time in the Senate to pass the bill, despite its heft as an issue. An hour and a half yesterday, maybe 10 minutes today.

Based purely on that you could argue it wasn't a distraction at all, as Gov. Jim Douglas has argued it is. But floor time doesn't tell the whole story.

Most senators will tell you this issue has not prevented them from attending to their other matters. The Transportation Committee is still working on transportation issues, the Economic Development Committee is birthing an omnibus bill, the Institutions Committee is building a capital budget.

But they were doing that amid a torrent of messages, via via e-mail and on little pink while-you-were-out slips delivered by pages. And they were doing that amid making some what for some was a pretty heart-wrenching decision. Even for those who'd already made up their minds, it was an emotional moment.

Senators yesterday after the vote said they were exhausted, emotionally spent. Many of them spent the weekend fielding calls, e-mails and comments from neighbors back home. Some cast their vote not knowing if they will pay for it at the polls next year.

So was it/is it a distraction? The jury's out. You can argue that the adrenaline rush of this bill gives them energy for other work, that the more you have to do the more you can do, but you can also argue that a bunch of senators were exhausted and it was only Monday. Some of them have some very tough budgets to build. The answer will be in how that goes.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
The Governor's "distraction" argument is species. Does anyone believe that if we were in boom times with a budget surplus and no other legislative priorities that the Gov. would support this debate? As if.
 
The governor is quick to make specific claims of distractions or the speed of a bill if it is not something he wants.

Evidence - his ec stimulus bill last year - he said teh legislature should just pass it quickly - oh and by the way it didn't help vt's economy in any way - it was purely a campaign.issue
 
The right wingers say that this is a distraction and we shouldn't spend any time on it.

Then they say that the bill is being "rushed through" and we need to spent lots more time on it.

Their message has been inconsistent and illogical.
 
The mess Vermont finds itself in after more than six years of douglas incompetence is the distraction here. The only distraction here.
 
Jim Douglas promised us JIM=JOBS!
We have been losing jobs since he took office in 2003.

Of course, as is his usual M.O., he will point the finger elsewhere and blame the legislature or blame Washington or blame the national economy.

Jim Douglas lacks vision, conviction, and leadership.
 
Jim Douglas never had the time to express an opinion on civil unions during the debate a decade ago and during all the economic good times that followed. Finally the tap dance must end and he has to take a stand.
 
Scudder Parker had it right..." A Chronic underachiever"
 
It would have been nice to see Jim go last election cycle and have Gaye run the state for awhile, but as I look at the names on the ballot for the next election cycle I am even more excited!

I think Deb and Doug are great and are exactly what VT need!
 
There is not a Democrat in Montpelier that has vision. I am a Democrat but I have had enough.
 
"Anonymous said...
The Governor's 'distraction' argument is species."

Umm ... do you mean "specious?"

And as for the claim on his stimulus bill, that "it was purely a campaign issue," what would you call gay marriage? Or global warming, 2007's big issue?

I guess it must be slow over at Green Mountain Daily.
 
It's all guess work with you, indy.
 
Independent Vermonter said...

"And as for the claim on his stimulus bill, that "it was purely a campaign issue," what would you call gay marriage? Or global warming, 2007's big issue?"

Legitimate issues. If douglas gave a damn about stimulating Vermont's economy, he'd spare us his continued incompetence and resign.
 
The time that Gaye and Pete wasted fawning over Gore in 2007, was TOTALLY political!
 
Deb and Doug - you have got to be kidding - that is enough to make me vote for Douglas. Come on Democrats get your act together.
 
Doug Racine would make a great Governor - certainly better than Douglas!
 
Anonymous said...

"The time that Gaye and Pete wasted fawning over Gore in 2007, was TOTALLY political!"

Sure, and the earth is still flat, too.
 
Racine for GOVERNOR in 2010
 
"The mess Vermont finds itself in after more than six years of douglas incompetence is the distraction here. The only distraction here."

The mess Vermont finds itself in after more than four years of LEGISLATIVE incompetence is the distraction here. The only distraction here.
 
Racine for Governor
Costello for Lt Gov
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006   October 2006   November 2006   December 2006   January 2007   February 2007   March 2007   April 2007   May 2007   June 2007   July 2007   August 2007   September 2007   October 2007   November 2007   December 2007   January 2008   February 2008   March 2008   April 2008   May 2008   June 2008   July 2008   August 2008   September 2008   October 2008   November 2008   December 2008   January 2009   February 2009   March 2009   April 2009   May 2009   June 2009   July 2009   August 2009   September 2009   October 2009   November 2009   December 2009   January 2010   February 2010   March 2010   April 2010