RI/PA: The next marriage fights?

With the addition of four states into the marraige equality family over the last few months, the question becomes: what next? With 29 state constitutions specifically banning same-sex marriage, 19 of which (including Ohio) ban marriage and other forms of recognition, what do we do? There are two states left with no statutes or amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman -- Rhode Island and New Mexico. We'll get to that in a moment. 

Ten states only have a statute passed by the legislature defining marriage -- HI (some rights granted), WA (everything but marriage), MD (some rights granted, possible out of state marriages recognized), WY, MN, IL (civil union bill recently died), IN, PA, WV, and NC. In theory, these are the states where the DOMA's can be overturned by legislative action, which would be the next big step before we start taking on voter-enacted laws (only California looks likely at this point, with recent polls showing an even split at 47-48 for-against).

Daniel Leach (D), State Senator in Pennsylvania, will be introducing a bill next week allowing same-sex marriage in that state. In short: the next round of states is starting to teeter, and this round is harder than the last. Especially because a Constitutional amendment has also been proposed in the state banning same-sex marriage. *sigh* Really? Again: I thought we were done with those. But yet we carry on.

Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, protests are planned at the statehouse asking the legislators to pass a same sex marriage ... after 12 years of action. (On the flip side, they haven't moved against marriage, either.) The state seems to be torn between the relative progressive nature of the populace, and the overwhelming conservative leadership and the influence of the Roman Catholic church. In short: don't expect anything anytime soon, but it's nice to dream, innit?

And, finally, nothing is happening in New York but everyone is acting like it has.

As for New Mexico, that final state with no laws where you'd think it would be easy to squeeze through considering it's relative supportive atmosphere... zero. Zilch. Nada. Well, sort of maybe... in 2009, the statehouse defeated a DP law. So, maybe not completely supportive. *sigh*

(PA) The Return of the Marriage Amendment

In all the excitement of moving towards legalization of same-sex marriage, perhaps we've forgotten about the bigger fight to come: the defeat of nearly 30 defense of marriage acts and amendments (and we aren't talking the federal one here). I think we may have even forgotten a little bit that these kind of bills and movements passed no shorter than a year ago in places like Arkansas and, of course, California.

The next one has just been announced... this time in Ohio neighbor, Pennsylvanis. From the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents (to be blogrolled):

From the Post-Gazette comes word that a Blair County State Senator, John Eichelberger, plans to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the introduction of legislation which would amend the Pennsylvania constitution to protect heterosexual marriage from the gay agenda.

The bill needs to be approved in two successive legislative sessions and then put on the ballot as a referendum. Recent similar attempts have been increasingly unsuccessful. While the 2006 legislation was defeated with a tricky "yes means no" maneuver, a 2008 bill never made it out of committee.

The original story can be found at the Post-Gazette.

Pennsylvania only has an act, which can be defeated in a court case or by a simple reversal of the legislative body. Some indications are that this is all about the hot hot hot Senate race that all ready has had Arlen Specter switch parties to (assumedly) avoid a fight with ultra conservative Republican, Pat Toomey. Fortunately, the process to get one passed in that state is quite difficult and may likely die, especially if NY passes marriage and PA sees that it ain't no thang, but we'll see, yes?

*sigh* And here we were all hoping we were done with this crap.

Arlen Specter Switches Party

Arlen Specter becomes a Democrat in the 2010 election. And few people are surprised.

From his statement (via TPM):

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

...

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords' switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

The whole filibuster-proof thing just became significantly easier.

ELECTION 2008: New poll

Thanks to 3BlueDudes for pointing this out...

According to a new Quinnipiac University (a university you never hear about except in the case of polling, which they are rather prolific at), via Time Magazine, we have three new and interesting polls... really bad for McCain, really good for Obama...

Florida: Obama 51%, McCain 43%

Ohio: Obama 50%, McCain 42%

Pennsylvania: Obama 54%, McCain 39%

Now I've said before that Pennsylvania (and Michigan) would not be close --but the Ohio and Florida numbers are huge. Quinnipiac is unbiased (ie, not a Dem or GOP controlled polling house), and it's fairly well respected.

This, I think, is the beginning of the end of hopes for McCain, especially since he tied himself to a failed bailout bill...

...which I have some comments on, but I'm not sure when I'm going to put them out there.