MA LEGISLATURE IS NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT: From the New York Times

The Massachusetts legislature was awash in turmoil and indecision on Wednesday as lawmakers struggled to come to terms with the meaning of the court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state.

The ruling, issued on Tuesday by the Supreme Judicial Court, the state's highest judicial body, gave the legislature 180 days to conform. But it left to the 200 lawmakers the choice of what steps to take, if any,
to allow gays to obtain marriage licenses....

Wednesday was the last day of the legislative session--the lawmakers do not formally reconvene until Jan. 7--and the Statehouse was buzzing with exasperated confusion, carefully honed no-comments and the
determination of many lawmakers to wait and see what constituents wanted.

"In my seven years in the legislature, this has been the most difficult issue I've had in front of me," said State Representative Gene L. O'Flaherty, a Democrat who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and supports civil unions.

Mr. O'Flaherty said many constituents had contacted his office to oppose the decision. That has caused him to think about supporting what seems to be the only long-term option to counteract it: a state constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage.

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posted by Eve at 7:56 PM | link

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