Two New England governors are facing a choice between their principles and their party as same-sex-marriage bills move nearer to landing on their desks.
Homosexual advocates are concentrating on the destruction of marriage in all of New England by 2012.
-- From "Gay-marriage bills corner 2 governors" by Valerie Richardson, Washington Times 5/4/09
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Maine Gov. John Baldacci had staked out clear positions against gay marriage before this year's legislative sessions. Then bills to extend marriage to same-sex couples began moving faster than expected through the Maine and New Hampshire legislatures.
The bills' supporters and detractors have been divided largely along party lines, with Democratic legislators overwhelmingly in favor. The problem for Mr. Baldacci and Mr. Lynch is that they are Democrats, and New England Democrats who oppose gay marriage are increasingly rare.
"If you read the blogs, it's almost like it's become a litmus test for Democrats here, like abortion," said Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research-Action in Manchester, N.H., which opposes same-sex marriage.
Mr. Lynch likely will confront the issue first. Both houses of the New Hampshire legislature have passed same-sex-marriage legislation, although lawmakers still must reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions before sending a bill to the governor.
In Maine, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage passed the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 21-14 and now goes to the House, where a vote is expected Tuesday. Most observers agree that House passage is likely.
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