State Senate Votes

The state Senate just completed its vote. The bill recognizing same-sex civil unions passed 27-9, no abstentions.

I will try to transcribe portions of the video.

As is typical with this body, they congratulated themselves on their high level of debate and civility. I guess what they mean by that is that no one was shouting. There were plenty of accusations of bigotry and hatred.

The low point came when Sen. John Fonfara told about rereading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The hanging of the Proctors reminded him that there is no essential difference between those who oppose same-sex civil unions and those who killed the Proctors. His religiously motivated constituents are just like the witch-hunting reverend John Hale.

Sen. Bill Finch stated "we are not to be deluded by religious argument" contrasting all religious faith and reason. He also congratulated the Senate on "expanding democracy" in the direction of "natural rights" consistent with both the state's and country's constitutions.

Again, how is this an expansion of democracy? Are we giving people a right to vote they did not have before? If his interest is in the expansion of democracy why is he so reluctant to submit this to a vote by the state's citizens?