Didn’t this become out of fashion a few years ago? A majority of Americans now support same-sex unions, but the PA Senate is still pursuing an absolute ban despite the fact that it’s already illegal. Hello McFly!? Doesn’t the Senate have anything better to do?
The boisterous rally in the Capitol rotunda came just moments after the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 18-8 to send the proposed amendment to the full Senate.The Senate could vote as early as today. But the measure would have to be approved by the state House and, in the next legislative session, by both chambers to reach the voters in the form of a referendum question. The earliest a voter referendum could happen is 2009.
Legislative "priorities"
It is a disgrace that our legislature cannot get around to a public health measure like a meaningful anti-smoking bill, but wastes its time with such offensive nonsense as this legislation.
Smoking kills, and second hand smoke is a health hazard that the General Assembly should be regulating in order to protect employees and others.
I have never heard of anyone being harmed from a same-sex union between two consenting adults.
Priorities
The legislature wastes time on these issues because they are easy to debate and they can string the discussions on for days to give the impression they’re working. They don’t possess the intellectual abilities to work on the more pressing issues of healthcare and the economy. Perhaps if they blame the Homosexuals for the problems we face, the focus will be taken away from the real problem – them.
Spot on
That’s really pretty close to what I think is going on – this is a good issue to distract the media and voters from the real issues that need to be addressed.
Also, for those who support a ban – what’s wrong with the current law? Same-sex marriage is already illegal in PA, so what’s the point of this? (And note that I support same-sex marriage, but just putting that question out there)
If you google “homosexual
If you google “homosexual life expectancies” you may find evidence of truly tragic proportions.
Some studies indicate their longevity, sadly, at thirty to forty years LESS than their heterosexual counterparts.
Though it’s unpopular to say so, anything that encourages this much early death and suffering should be discouraged.
Second hand smoke, on the other hand, is popular to demonize, even though it’s never killed anyone or actually been shown to shorten anyone’s life.
google
If you google obtuse, you’ll find this comment.
You don’t decide one day
You don’t decide one day that you will gay. It is part of your makeup whether you like it or not. You can decide to fight it your whole life or you can decide to live the way God made you, but to live contrary to your natural makeup simply because there are studies showing if you live a promiscuous lifestyle your life expectancy is shortened is surely a sad way live. Gay singles and couples that have led a lifestyle of single partners have the life expectancy of any heterosexual pair. Even heterosexual singles that lead very active sexual lifestyles run the risk of a shortened lifespan due to many of the same causes plaguing the gay community. I guess I’m trying to say the gay person really doesn’t have a choice if they want to live a full and happy life. Secondly, you need to read up on your second hand smoke information. It is deadly to non-smokers as well as smokers.
Fumo proposes ban on divorce
Hahahaha! Fumo is proposing an amendment to this bill to ban divorce in the state since the Republicans are so eager to protect the sanctity of marriage.
While this amendment has no chance of passing, it does expose the sanctimoniousness of the GOP.
pd
Fumo
You might want to check your facts. Fumo is a Dem.
I know he's a Dem
Just making the point that finally a Dem is willing to expose the hypocrisy that is today’s GOP.
pd
Divorce Ban
Fumo is a Dem. He’s just making a point by one-upping Brubaker and the GOP on their ridiculous proposal to ban gay marriage.
Is Santorum now in PA State legislature
because that Man-Dog marriage possibility must be very scary. Stupid PA reps who support this.
Gay marriage bill tabled
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08127/879544-100.st…
Brubaker evidently figured with 14 amendments awaiting debate on the bill, it wasn’t worth the trouble to stay up late and pass the bill.
pd
Speaking as a Conservative...
My Republican representatives in Harrisburg apparently don’t have the stomach to take on Rendell and his Dems on taxes, spending, education, health care, earmarks, et. al., but the mere thought of some crackpot judge overturning DOMA is enough to gather all the troops in line? The reality is that Republicans across the state are trying to pull a Wizard of Oz move (i.e., “pay not attention to the man behind the curtain”) will what I’ll label as a “pre-emptive” law. They’re hoping Republican voters don’t take a look at their votes on taxes, spending, etc., as they try to whip up steam against what they see as the “looming prospect” of gay marriage in Pennsylvania. Does anyone know if the state DOMA law has even been challenged yet? I can’t say that I’m wild over the concept of gay marriage, but anyone with an ounce of sense (whether conservative or liberal ) can see this for what it is – pandering to the base, in part to cover for a dismal conservative record on the whole. If the state DOMA law was actually being challenged, then a push for a constitutional amendment might be more understandable. It now appears the state Senate tabled the bill. Good. Memo to the state GOP: you’re not going to quell the base (and begin the process of winning back conservative Dems and independents) by AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION to address a non-existent problem. Tackle issues most people actually care about – you know, small stuff like cutting taxes, controlling spending,workable education and health care reforms. Things you actually used to care about and most Pennsylvanians still do. I love my party but sometimes I really worry…
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