Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick warns of the coming political storm should the wingnuts' proposed amendment to ban gay marriage, which has been legal there since 2004, makes it to the ballot.
Said Patrick: “If this does get to a popular ballot, there is very little other business that will get done in Massachusetts politics and policy making while that is pending. Rather than turn Massachusetts into a political circus for a national debate over something which is largely settled here, my own view is that we ought to resolve this on the merits so that it stays off the ballot, and to do so at the constitutional convention.”
Currently 57 lawmakers are seen as supporting the amendment, which requires 50 votes this legislative session to make it to the statewide ballot. In January, the previous legislature approved the amendment on the final day of the legislative session. Massachusetts law requires a proposed amendment to the state constitution to be backed by one quarter (50) of the state's lawmakers in two legislative sessions before it can proceed to the ballot.
