Thursday, May 2, 2013
A bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed 56-15.
Sixteen years after legislation was first introduced in Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal in the Ocean State. On Thursday afternoon, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the legislation with a vote of 56-15. As with the first House vote on the matter, all of Woonsocket's representatives voted against the measure. Representatives Stephen M. Casey (D – Dist. 50, Woonsocket), Lisa Baldelli Hunt (D – Dist. 49, Woonsocket) and Robert D. Phillips (D – Dist. 51, Woonsocket) all voted against. Woonsocket Senators Marc A. Cote, (D-Dist. 24) and Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20) voted against the measure last week. "This is a great day in Rhode Island, not just for the many Rhode Island families who will now get the recognition…
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With the Senate's approval, the bill now goes to Gov. Lincoln Chafee for his signature.
In a 26-12 vote, the Rhode Island Senate Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state, the last in New England to approve such a measure. The House of Representatives voted 51-19 on Jan. 25 to approve that chamber's version of the bill. Should the House pass the Senate version, the legislation would go to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who has pledged his support. Bristol's delegation split 1-1, with Sen. Walter Felag Jr. (D-Bristol, Tiverton, Warren) opposing the bill and Sen. Christopher Ottiano (R-Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton) voting in favor. [In two ceremonial measures, the Senate also approved the House bill, 26-12, and sent its bill to the House for approval.] With Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed's …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The RI Senate Judiciary Committee votes 7-4 today to move marriage-equality legislation to the full Senate on Wednesday; East Providence Sen. William Conley among those in favor.
The full RI Senate will vote on the same-sex marriage bill tomorrow afternoon after it was sent to the floor by the Senate Judiciary Committee today, April 23. The vote was 7-4. Among those voting in support of the bill was Sen. William J. Conley Jr. of East Providence, according to the Providence Journal. The committee rejected by a 6-5 vote a bill that would have put the marriage-equality legislation before Rhode Island voters in a referendum next year. The victory on Tuesday gives gay marriage supporters much hope in a debate that has been fierce at times. Dozens of same-sex marriage supporters packed the third floor State House hearing room and the hallway outside, according to the newspaper. Voting for the bill besides Conley were …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The state House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the controversial measure for 3 p.m.
A vote by the state House Judiciary committee on a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is scheduled for a vote this afternoon at 3 p.m., the General Assembly Press Bureau announced. The "Equal Access to Marriage" bill — submitted in the House by Cranston Rep. Arthur Handy and co-sponsored by Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) — would make Rhode Island the last state in New England to allow same-sex marriages, and would recognize any civil unions as marriages. According to a release from the General Assembly Press Bureau, "no further testimony will be taken at this hearing." The agenda for the hearing is attached to this article.
Pitlover
2:52 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
I, too, was very disappointed with the votes by the Woonsocket delegation on this issue. I believe in the motto "Live and Let Live". Whatever happened to tolerance? more ›