The Hawai'i State House just punted on a civil unions bill, and they did it in the most cowardly fashion imaginable: on a voice vote.
The State Senate passed a bill which would allow the same rights to both same-sex and heterosexual couples on the first day of the new legislative session, so it moved to the House. Sadly, the gutless wonders there wouldn't even put their names to their votes, fearing retribution in an election year, no doubt.
Shameful.
Posted by Linkmeister at January 29, 2010 08:47 PM | TrackBackYeah, they really blew it. A great opportunity to show how grown up the Aloha State had finally become, and they blew it!! (sigh)
Posted by: Illanoy Gal at January 30, 2010 10:39 AMWhat's really depressing is that Hawai'i was the first state to legalize abortion, long before Roe v. Wade. Once upon a time, this was a very progressive place with gutsy lawmakers. Now you've got these clowns, and you've got Calvin Say feeling compelled to say "We are not cowards," when there's all the necessary evidence to prove him wrong right in front of him.
Posted by: Linkmeister at January 30, 2010 10:46 AMSure got that right!
Posted by: Illanoy Gal at January 31, 2010 01:20 AMSo...does a voice vote mean a unison of voices voting at once...with no official record of each legislator's vote - yay or nay? That sucks. You'll have to vote all of them out.
Posted by: Karan at January 31, 2010 11:48 AM