(Via Andrew Sullivan)
“Douglas Will Veto Marriage Equality
The Vermont governor will veto the marriage equality bill passed overwhelmingly by the state Senate. The margin in the House is also very high, as Douglas conceded:
“I’m sure that legislative leaders would not have advanced this bill if they did not have the votes to override a veto. I will accept the outcome of their vote either way.”
So why Douglas veto? His purported answer is unserious:
“The urgency of our state’s economic and budgetary challenges demands the full focus of every member and every committee of this Legislature.”
He can’t sign a bill and focus on the economy as well? Here’s hoping the legislature hangs tough and a third state legalizes marriage equality. Next up: Iowa. Then back to California, where the legislature already voted for the measure, only to be stopped by a funamentalist-funded initiative.”
Yeah, this “we have to concentrate on the economy and nothing else” mindset is just plain baseless. The best way to describe it would be like this: no one pays to see someone who only juggles one object at a time.
“we have to concentrate on the economy and nothing else” works as better flame-retardant reasoning than, “I don’t like the gay.” That’s how it appeared to me. If we weren’t neck deep in economic woes, I’m sure he’d use another scapegoat.