Thankfully, the Christianist/GOP effort to use anti-gay bigotry as a ploy to work up conservative voters has died in Pennsylvania. Even though the issue would not have been on the ballot in November, the fewer of these hate based constitutional amendment initiatives, the better. One can only hope that the effort to move forward such an initiative in Arizon for the November election will likewise die. When they cannot win on the real issues, the Christianists/GOP seek to use hate and bigotry as their favored election tactic. Here are highlights from 365gay.com:
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(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) In a surprise move just hours before the Pennsylvania Senate was expected to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state the measure's backer pulled the bill. Sen. Michael Brubaker (R) in asking to have the bill indefinitely tabled said that even though there was broad support in the Senate it would likely fail in the House.
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Rep. Babette Josephs (D) the powerful chair of the House State Government Committee vowed she would not allow the bill to come to a committee vote, ensuring it would not make to a full vote of that chamber. To put a proposed amendment on the ballot it would need to be approved by both houses in two consecutive sessions of the legislature.
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A recent poll found that although most Pennsylvanians oppose same-sex marriage there was widespread support civil unions. The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, found 65 percent of those questioned support civil unions while only 27 percent were opposed. (story)
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Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D) who opposes the amendment told a news conference at the Capitol that Brubaker was only making excuses by saying he was pulling the bill because of opposition in the House. Fumo said there was support in the Senate for stripping out the civil union prohibition, something that Brubaker opposes.
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