Vermont APPROVES Marriage Equality!

By a vote of 100-49 the Vermont House of Representatives has overridden Gov. Jim Douglas' veto! Marriage equality comes to Vermont! The fourth state to approve same-sex marriage, Vermont is the first to do so legislatively, rather than by judicial fiat. California's legislature approved same-sex marriage twice, but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

GO VERMONT!

Watch Vermont's Override Attempt

The Vermont House and Senate will vote today on the attempted override of Gov. Jim Douglas' marriage equality veto. Watch it live here.

The vote to override the veto will start Tuesday morning in the Senate, where a 26-4 vote on the bill itself indicates an override is likely. The House vote, possibly later this morning, will be more dramatic. Smith and other House Democratic leaders are urging Democrats who voted against the bill to support the majority and vote for the override. If all 150 members are present, 100 votes are needed for an override. Counting all members who voted for the bill in two votes last week, plus the speaker, who did not cast a vote but may on the override, there are 97 who support the bill. Two Democrats who voted against the bill have said they would change course and support the override.

UPDATE: The Senate has easily overridden Douglas' veto by a vote of 23-5.

VT: Marriage Veto Could Come Today

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas could issue his veto of marriage equality as early as today. The bill passed the state House on Friday and will be reconsidered as a formality tomorrow by both chambers due to new language exempting churches from sanctifying gay unions. The state Senate has more than enough votes to override a veto, but the fight will be close in the House. If the override push is successful, we could see marriage equality in Vermont by mid-week.

Hundreds Protest Planned Marriage Veto By Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas

Vermonters are pissed about their governor's planned veto of their marriage equality bill and today hundreds of them gathered at the state capital to say so.

Hundreds of supporters turned out at the Statehouse Friday morning to rally support for the bill legalizing gay marriage, two days after the Republican governor made the surprise announcement that he would reject the legislation if it comes to his desk. "This issue is not going away," said Paul O'Kane of Waterbury, who attended the rally with his civil union partner, Robert Tranchida. "We're going to follow the governor around the state and protest until he changes his mind." The Cedar Creek Room at the Statehouse was packed with a crowd flowing out into the hallways as the Democratic leadership urged supporters of same-sex marriage to speak to House lawmakers who may be on the fence on the issue.

"No one said this would be easy," Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, told the crowd. "But we are more determined than ever to overcome his veto." Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, said there are more than 75 strong supporters of the bill in the Vermont House - and they are pushing for a stronger majority of 100. Lawmakers would need 101 votes in that chamber to overcome a veto. He said some lawmakers are struggling with the issue and - just as some did during the civil unions debate nearly a decade ago - won't make up their minds until the hour of the vote. He said supporters need to convince these lawmakers.

Somebody please send us some photos of today's rally.

Contact Vt. Gov. Jim Douglas

Vermont Freedom To Marry is asking everybody to directly contact Gov. Jim Douglas and express your outrage/disappointment with his threat to veto the Senate marriage equality bill, S.115.

Do it here.

UPDATE: Here's Sean Chapin's response to Douglas' veto threat.

VT Governor To Veto Gay Marriage

Bad news.

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas says he will veto a bill to legalize gay marriage if it passes the Legislature. The Republican had said even before Wednesday's announcement that he was against same-sex marriage. He also has said lawmakers shouldn't have spent their time on the bill this session because of the economy and the state's budget deficit.

The Vermont Senate approved marriage equality earlier this week with the House expected to do the same shortly. There may be enough votes to overturn Douglas' veto.

Vermont: Marriage One Step Closer

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee in Vermont unanimously voted to move the marriage equality bill to the full Senate for a vote next week. An amendment to put the issue to the voters failed. The committee did approve an amendment that reaffirms the right of churches to refuse to perform same-sex ceremonies. The addition stipulates that no civil suits can be brought for such refusal.

Gov. Jim Douglas has refused to state whether he'll sign the bill. If he does, Vermont will become the first state to legislatively approve marriage equality. California's legislature approved same-sex marriage twice; each time to be rebuffed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Vermont: Marriage Equality "Fast Tracked" To Pass This Month

Lawmakers in Vermont are "fast tracking" their marriage equality bill, which is widely expected to pass both chambers of the state legislature by the end of the month.

The bill is one of several House Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin said will be among their priorities when the Legislature reconvenes March 17. Among the others were economic development, campaign finance and Vermont Yankee decommissioning bills. “It’s become clear we can and should work to pass a bill promoting the equal right to marry this year,” Shumlin said. “We are capable of doing more than one thing at a time.” Shumlin laid out a schedule that will fast track the bill through the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will start taking testimony March 16 and will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m., March 18, he said. The committee is expected to send the bill to the full Senate by March 20, he said. Shumlin and Smith expressed confidence that the bill would pass their chambers.

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) opposes marriage equality but hasn't said whether he'll veto the bill. However any veto by Douglas would be easily overridden in the state Senate. In the House, the votes to override are "probably there." Democrats lost control of the Vermont House nine years ago in what most consider to have been a backlash against the approval of civil unions.