New Hampshire House passes same-sex marriage, 178-167; bill now moves to governor's desk

Source: Union Leader

Concord – The New Hampshire House sent the gay marriage bill to Gov. John Lynch for signature, voting to agree with Senate changes to the bill.

House Bill 436, which extends the state’s marriage laws to include couples of any sex, won House approval by a vote of 178-167. The bill’s wording differs from the version the House passed in March, but its effect is basically the same.

“Any person … may marry any other eligible person regardless of gender,” the bill states.

Gov. Lynch now has the final say on gay marriage. He did not reveal his next move when speaking with reporters. He has said that he thinks the word marriage should be reserved for a union between a man and a woman.

Today, he said, “I have a responsibility as governor to do what I think is best for the people of New Hampshire. I will continue to talk with the Legislature and with the people of New Hampshire about that bill.”

Thousands of people have called Lynch’s office about the bill.

“We have been flooded with calls. People can’t even get through. The phone lines are basically jammed,” he said. But he stated, “I’m not going to be guided by the numbers of calls that come into the office. That will not have an impact on my decision.”

Opposing interest groups -- the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition and the conservative Cornerstone Policy Research –Action -- are airing television ads to pressure him on the bill.

Kevin Smith of CPR-Action called upon Lynch to veto the bill and act on his stated belief that marriage is reserved for heterosexual couples.

Lynch said that because the Senate was still making important changes to the proposed law in a separate bill yesterday, he cannot say what stance he’ll take on the Legislature’s finished product.

“These are much more than technical changes,” he said of Senate action. They affect the bill’s impact on religious organizations and distinctions between civil and religious marriages, he said.

If Lynch signs HB 436 into law, New Hampshire would be the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. Rhode Island would be the only New England state not to have adopted it.

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=House+passes+same-sex+marriage%2c+178-167%3b+bill+now+moves+to+governor%27s+desk&articleId=fdac91bf-bc90-4d2b-9068-909f754000fe

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Cmon, Governor Lynch! Follow Governor Baldacci's example from earlier today!

of course he can always just let it become law without signing it, right?

become law.

We now have
- Massachusetts
- Iowa
- Vermont
- Connecticut
- Maine

At some point we will gain the critical mass to make things move nationally. I hope that states that see that nothing horrible has happened in these other states they will come to their senses and recognize this is an issue of civil rights. But the bigots love to hold out so who knows.

We need to be utterly prepared for a protracted fight. There will be setbacks and zigs and zags in the process. We may gain a state, and then lose it, only to gain it again. History is unquestionably on our side, but celebration is premature.

All our neighbors allow it, I want to marry the woman of my dreams... um, when I find her - but anyway let me have the option! :D

Source: AP

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The legalization of gay marriage in New Hampshire hinges on the next move of Gov. John Lynch, who remains uncommitted but has said he believes the word "marriage" should be reserved for the union of a man and a woman.

"I'm going to talk to legislators and I'm going to talk to the people of New Hampshire and ultimately make the best decision I can for the people of New Hampshire," the Democratic governor said Wednesday evening.

The state's gay marriage bill squeaked through the House on a 178-167 vote after an hour of debate. Both chambers appear to be far short of enough votes to override a veto.

If Lynch signs the bill or lets it become law without his signature, New Hampshire would become the sixth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage after Maine approved the legislation Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJiMhk1BSE6hQdV1D-eA1cgrBCCwD9819OUG3

we're just asking for our piece of fairness and dignity. Human dignity. That's all. Sign the bill. Your GLBT citizens will thank you; your neighboring states who already have same-sex marriage will thank you; and I will thank you.

You're in a region where four of the six states in it have legalized gay marriage. Hell, Maine got to it before you did.

Sign the bill, and if you don't have the stones, then just put it in your pocket and let it become law.

Constitution.

I'm so tired of seeing all the inaccurate reporting on this.

NH would become the 6th state in the nation to currently allow marriage equality, but the 7th to legalize it in the first place

...it's cya time...just sign the damn thing!

I predict he'll weasel out of it and let it become law without his signature.

At least Baldacci had the courage to sign the bill passed by Maine's legislature.

is there some sort of time frame before it laspses?


He is weaseling out, in my opinion.

Iirc.

The governor of Maine was in the same situation, but (wonder of wonders) he resisted the politician's catnip and signed the bill without all the overwrought "agonizing" and posturing. Lynch appears to be susceptible to the media limelight, and will draw this out and milk it for all the free attention he can get. If you're going to sign it, sign it, Mr. Lynch. No more eloquent statement can be made than simply treating this as a routine matter, like a highway appropriations bill. If you're not going to sign it, then veto it today. It's simple cruelty to dangle the chimera of fuller participation in society only to snatch it away.

If it's possible, Mr. Lynch, please just do the right thing.

It's not sign or veto. He can take the weasel option, if he prefers.

asks you to do:

http://www.governor.nh.gov/contactus.htm

His damned legislators have finally put him in a position
where the decision on something actually rests with him
and no matter what he does, one side or the other will
end up (Gasp!) disliking him!

And here he hoped to escape yet another term as 'Guv
without ever having to exhibit any actual character!

Geez he sucks! A typical DLC embarrassment!

Tesha

did not recognize marriage between different races or between divorced people. And maybe we can go back to the time when women were considered chattel inside of marriage. I want gay marriage and I want it now.

C'mon Governor.... you can do this.