Governor: “A civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”
It was doubtful, but Maine’s Democratic Governor John Baldacci, going against his own beliefs but hearing the voice of his people, decided to sign a bill passed just yesterday that allows same-sex couples to marry. The bill passed the House 89-57 and the Senate 20-15. The state’s latest poll shows voters almost evenly split, with 49% opposed and 47% in support of gay marriage. Maine is the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage.
The bill will not become law until after the November election, during which a “voters’ veto” could take place, effecrtively vetoing the bill, should it be placed on the ballot.
**UPDATE: 12:50 Text Of Governor’s Speech**
Governor John E. Baldacci today signed into law LD 1020, An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom.
“I have followed closely the debate on this issue. I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully,” Governor Baldacci said. “I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste.”
“I appreciate the tone brought to this debate by both sides of the issue,” Governor Baldacci said. “This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions. There are good, earnest and honest people on both sides of the question.”
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”
“Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.’”
“This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State,” Governor Baldacci said.
“It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”
“Even as I sign this important legislation into law, I recognize that this may not be the final word,” Governor Baldacci said. “Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people.”
“While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do,” Governor Baldacci said.
Related posts:
- BREAKING NEWS: Gay Marriage Bill Passes Maine Senate
- BREAKING: Maine House Passes Gay Marriage Bill 89-58
- BREAKING NEWS: New Hampshire Governor Will Sign Gay Marriage Bill
- Maine House To Debate Gay Marriage Bill Tuesday
- Governor Lynch, Did You Let New Hampshire’s Gay Marriage Bill Slide Into Law?
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Given that Maine is a referendum state like California, we need to take the lessons learned from Prop.8 and make sure the fairness and equality stays the law.
Opponents of gay marriage only need to gather about 54,000 signatures and have them turned in by Sept. 4 to have this put on the ballot for November.
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