MASS. MARRIAGE MEASURE A SHAKY SOLUTION: From the Boston Globe

...But inside the House chamber, the tedious legislative process had ground the drama into a mushy compromise that no one loves.

Lawmakers appeared reluctant to embrace the measure, which would ban gay marriage and create civil unions for gay couples. The key interest groups, whose participation would probably be crucial to a ballot fight in November 2006, are adamantly opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment.

"I'm not sure there's going to be anybody behind it," said Chip Ford, director of operations for Citizens for Limited Taxation, a statewide advocacy group that has fought for and against ballot measures in Massachusetts for decades. "It's a compromise, but everybody's going away unhappy."

The most influential and best-funded groups on both sides of the gay-marriage debate now stand ready to campaign against the proposed amendment if it reaches the statewide ballot in 2006. They are devising various scenarios to scuttle the measure before it gets there, either when the convention reconvenes March 29 or in the 2005-2006 legislative session, when it must be approved again. "It will more than likely draw opposition from two opposing camps, both operating under the theory that half a loaf is worse than none," said state Representative Robert S. Hargraves, a Groton Republican who opposes gay marriage and civil unions.

The result: a compromise without a constituency that, even if it clears the Legislature, could have difficulty attracting major political backing for a ballot fight.

more
posted by Eve at 5:53 PM | link

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home