[raccoonradio]

yes, the link posted below was saying that the vote was to recess for an hour. I tried to hear what was being said on
the streamcast and did hear the bit about "shall we recess
for an hour?" and the rollcall, but it was so plagued
with audio drops and video freezes that I gave up.

[raccoonradio]

AP:
BOSTON - Lawmakers in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is legal, voted Tuesday to allow a proposed constitutional amendment to move forward that would effectively ban it.

The amendment's backers had collected 170,000 signatures to get a question on the 2008 ballot asking voters to declare marriage in Massachusetts to be between a man and a woman, but they still needed the Legislature's approval in two consecutive sessions.

On Tuesday, 61 lawmakers backed moving the measure forward, compared to 132 opposed. The amendment need 50 votes of support to advance.

[gidget7]

Just read this on bluemass

Just in from the Governor-elect. The full statement is after the flip. His statement on the adjourn vs. vote question:

I favor ending this petition initiative promptly. If adjournment can accomplish that, so be it. If the Constitutional Convention chooses to vote on the merits, I want to be utterly clear that I believe a vote to advance this question to the 2008 ballot is irresponsible and wrong. Given the significant challenges we face on so many other fronts, I would be deeply disappointed in such a vote. It would do nothing more than condemn us all to more years of debate and expense on a matter that is legally and practically settled.


Grrrrrrr