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The progress of this month's bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont has hit a bump in the road, with Vermont Governor Jim Douglas (R) promising to veto the bill if it passes through the House after the Senate passed the bill with 26-4 vote last week.
In a statement released March 25, Douglas cited his intentions to veto the bill from his belief that lawmakers and legislature should not divert their focus from Vermont's current economic and budgetary problems.
"I believe our civil union law serves Vermont well and I would support congressional action to extend those benefits at the federal level to states that recognize same-sex unions," Douglas said. "But, like President Obama and other leaders on both sides of the aisle, I believe that marriage should be between a man and woman."
Douglas said that since he is sure the legislative leaders have the votes to override a veto, he will accept either outcome of their vote and turn his attention back to the economic and unemployment issues at hand.
"The urgency of our state's economic and budgetary challenges demands the full focus of every member and every committee of this Legislature," Gov. Douglas said.
The governor's announcement has drawn some criticism from people following the bill's progress.
"Marriage is a sacred institution and a source of pride for heterosexual people, a pride that comes at the expense of another group," IRA President Bob Just said. "We say that there is separation of Church and State, but if this bill does not pass, I find it hard to believe in such a separation."
Dorothea "Dot" Brauer, Director of LGBTQA Services, said that it is the responsibility of the Vermont government to set a higher standard for civil society, and that she hopes Vermonters will be disturbed by Gov. Douglas' decision to veto.
"Government has to act on behalf of citizens who are being systematically excluded by any instrument of society – that's the role of government," Brauer said.
Brauer said that Gov. Douglas' announcement was not a surprise to her and that the governor set a precedent in earlier years by vetoing other civil rights legislation on gender and identity expression issues.
President of the UVM College Republicans, Daron Raleigh, said that she supports Gov. Douglas in his decision to veto for reasons pertaining to the state of the national economy and the importance of focusing on related policy.
"Governor Douglas thinks it's more important to focus on fiscal issues at this time, and that is something I support," Raleigh said. "At the same time, I sense the mood of the state and this campus, and this issue has definitely become a top priority, if not the top priority."
Raleigh said that she believes Gov. Douglas' decision to veto is a moot point due to the fact that the House and Senate undoubtedly have the votes to override.
"Clearly the people of Vermont want this," UVM freshman Josh Bell said. "It's like the women's suffrage vote – it's going to pass, and I firmly believe that every day we are progressing toward that."
Bell said that he believes Gov. Douglas is wasting time, taxpayer dollars and public resources in announcing his intentions to veto the bill in a state that passed civil unions before any other state in the country.
"I think it's a personal issue that he is too scared to admit," Bell said. "The fact that [Douglas] is justifying his decision with economic issues does not change the fact that he is dividing society."
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1041 VT Route 118N
Belvidere, VT )5442
802-644-2556
Honorable Jim Douglas doesn't want you to know.
Jim Douglas is gay about your wages, your take home pay.
Jim is just in a republican twitter, just giddy about all Vermonter’s take home pay waiting to be tapped, harvested by the communist American Payroll Association agenda.So the Gay marriage Veto is just smoke for your eyes, hypnotism for your mind to chew on, busy work to make you the public look elsewhere. Entrapment works best on the unsuspecting.“The urgency of our state’s economic and budgetary challenges demands the full focus of every member and every committee of this Legislature.” (Jim Douglas) Ahhhhhhhhh, Gov-Jim. That’s so sweet.
Jim is working with corporate fascists to dip into your take home pay before you ever get to touch one red cent. Pat Powden(VT Dept Labor Commissioner), Jim Douglas, and the American Payroll Association communist, fascist agenda want to own your take home pay because you are just laborers, the crop growing in credit card soil of Vermont ripe for picking, workers for the rich like the rich Jim Douglas. Like taking candy from a baby.
Jim-Bo-Bush-republican wants payroll debit cards to beckon your children and you, cause your the garden of untapped wages waiting to be harvested by corporate greed of the republican ideological fundamentalism that has brought America to its knees in the last eight years.
Gay marriage --- Jim would laugh. Where those fools out in the public going to get the $money$ for the gay marriage license after the "American" Payroll Association, Pat Powden and Honorable Jim Douglas republican Bush corrupt corporate agenda devour your take home pay.
Gim Douglas and Pat Powden have invited some new playmates to Vermont that are stalking your ability to earn a living, be free, and decide for yourself; flush democracy. Good ol Jim Douglas republican corruption and the payroll debit card want your take home pay.
Don’cha just love Jim’s eternally upturned eye brows of concern for ever looking down on you his subjects, reminds me of George Bush. Jim has one eye on you and one eye on your take home pay. Watch Jims eyebrows twitch.Q: Can an employer pay an employee wages with a debit card?
A: No. Vermont law, 21 V.S.A §343 does not permit wages to be paid via debit card at this time. The statute requires that wages be paid in cash or check, as defined in the Vermont UCC (Uniform Commercial Code). A debit card does not fit the definition of cash or check defined by the UCC.But Jim and Pat know the black magic to wipe the floor with silly Vermont law and make a standing NO … into a quiet ... yessssssss. (who cares what current VT law is)Jim Douglas on March 25, 2009 said he wants to get the job done and what a job he’s going to do on you, your children, Vermont families, and the very life blood of every Vermonter’s ability to live by the entrapment of your take home pay with payroll debit cards that may be given the force of law in Senate Bill S-58 shepparded by Patricia Powden and Vincent Illusury. (SED S.58)Would't the Vermont public love to hear your thoughts or silence on Gov-Jim’s and Pat’s payroll debit cards.Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive.Have a nice day,
Fred Starchenkovenner
1041 VT Route 118N
Belvidere, VT )5442
802-644-2556
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