The cost of gay marriage in Vermont

(Montpelier, Vermont) Papers filed with the Vermont Secretary of State’s office show that same-sex marriage advocates spent more than $228,000 in the three months before the legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a marriage bill.

Lobby groups are required to submit financial disclosure forms to the state. The forms cover …

Will Vt. gay marriage vote encourage lawmakers in other states?

(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont, which invented civil unions, on Tuesday became a pioneer again as the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislature’s vote, suggesting growing popular acceptance of the idea.

The House barely achieved the votes necessary to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a …

Gay marriage legal in Vermont

(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont has become the fourth state where same-sex marriage is legal. and the first to do so in the legislature.

The House and Senate on Tuesday overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a marriage bill.

The Republican governor, as expected, nixed the bill Monday night when it …

Vt House tries to override gay marriage veto

(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont lawmakers Tuesday will attempt to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry. The Republican governor, as expected, nixed the bill Monday night when it arrived on his desk.

In a prepared statement, the governor attempted to portray himself as a moderate, …

Vermont showdown looms

(Montpelier, Vermont) Legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry arrives on Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas’ desk today with the Republican governor expected to veto it as early as tonight.

Throughout the weekend, House Democratic leaders worked the phones attempting to build enough votes to override a veto. But as of …

Vermont House OKs gay marriage

(Montpelier, Vermont) The Vermont House on Thursday passed marriage equality legislation but not by enough of a margin to override a threatened veto by Gov. Jim Douglas (R) .

The bill passed the House on a 95-52 preliminary vote. A final vote will be held on Friday. It would need 100 …

Vt Gov flooded with mail over gay marriage veto threat

(Montpelier, Vermont) Some called him a homophobe. Some accused him of spreading hatred. Some thanked him, or applauded him for showing “backbone” in the face of pressure from gay rights advocates.

In the first two days after he pledged to veto a same-sex marriage bill, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas’ mailbag and …

Vermont closer to legalizing gay marriage

Nine years after becoming the first state to permit civil unions, Vermont moved a step toward legalizing gay marriage Friday.

A bill that would allow same-sex unions was introduced in the Legislature, causing a crowd of about several hundred supporters to gather at the Statehouse in celebration.

“This really is a great day and a part of moving forward to a time when all Vermont couples will be treated equally under our laws,” said a sponsor, Rep. Mark Larson.

A similar bill is expected to be introduced later in the state Senate.

The House legislation has 59 sponsors, none of them Republican, though some GOP lawmakers have said they’ll vote for the bill, Larson said.

“I know that there’s broad support in the House,” he said.

Despite the enthusiasm, it’s unclear if the measure will see any action this session, with lawmakers preoccupied with the state’s fiscal crisis that has led to voluntary pay cuts, court closings and Gov. Jim Douglas’s proposal to lay off more than 600 state workers.

See Vermont closer to legalizing gay marriage