I don’t know if it’s the political winds, a change in Governor Gregoire, or some combination, but I’m glad she’s going to push a marriage equality law in the next legislative session. She seems to think the votes are there. We’ll see, but it couldn’t hurt to contact your legislators, to shore the support up.
Even if the votes aren’t there in the legislature, it’s worth pushing. This will happen one day, and the only way you get forward movement is to keep working and working and working.
There have always been 3 things needed to make this a law: the legislature to pass it, a governor who’ll sign it, and a public that won’t override it. Today we have a governor who says she’ll sign it and who says there’s a legislature that will pass it. But there is still the matter of what happens if it goes on the ballot.
I assume that Faith and Freedom and the other collection of assholes who put the domestic partnership law on the ballot after the legislature passed it will be able to gather enough signatures to put this on the ballot. I hope they don’t. Still, having seen no polling whatsoever, my initial thought is that it would be marginally good for Cantwell, Inslee and downticket races. It would probably be a winning issue for them to latch on to, and it would probably bring out youth voters.
But whatever happens going forward, thanks Governor Gregoire for a willingness to push this.
For those who believe in liberty and justice for all, this is a great moment to support the Governor and the coalition to right this wrong. And less there be any doubt, acting swiftly now in Washington will lead to jobs and economic benefits for Washingtonians.
After all, the CEO of America’s most highly capitalized company is gay.
I want this to pass but why now?
Does she think a republican is going to win the governorship so do it now while she can and has nothing to lose?
If it passes, will that energize the conservative base to even more elect a republican?
Blue John,
“I want this to pass but why now?”
Sounds to me like she is tired of having to govern like a Republican, and has decided to leave office with a few progressive accomplishments.
This is a matter of simple fairness. Plus, state policy shouldn’t be dictated by the religious beliefs of a favored group of citizens to the exclusion of others.
@2
She’s A#1 chicken shit. She could do it now and not have anything to worry about from those scary Republicans or people saying nasty things about her in the papers.
It’s also a bit of whitewash so people will remember her as more progressive than she really was.
Gregoire has been governor during a difficult period. Internationally, nationally, locally. If she wants to do the right thing now, let’s not question her motives. Let’s just support her.
I agree – she’s been a big disappointment, but this is the right thing to do. And it spits in the eye of the right wingers.
Good for her, pick a fight she can win, with people who are assholes, and does right by a lot of good people, and makes our society better.
@6
“Let’s not question”……partisan lemming much?
Nahhh, just a good thoughtful Washingtonian. Not a hateful scum sucking scab like the emperor max-minidick (aka kaiser bun the first).
this was the TOP issue that kept me for casting a vote for Gregoire.
she is too late to the party for me…glad she did it but this is a no-brainer for logical thinking folk. her pandering on this topic is something i can never forgive.
i refuse the defeatist thought process of better late than never.
But what will happen if Jenny Durkin opposes gay marriage? Will Gregoire veto her own bill?
@11,
Well done!