Alan Greenblatt is a GOVERNING correspondent.
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Gay Marriage Momentum
I have a piece in our May issue about how the political dynamics have shifted on the question of same-sex marriage, with momentum suddenly on the "pro" side.
Given the print magazine's lead time, I knew that piece would quickly be overtaken by events, and sure enough, today the Washington, DC city council has voted to recognize gay marriages from other states, while the Maine House has passed legislation to approve of such marriages. (Update: Gov. Baldacci has signed the Maine legislation.)
Steve Butterfield, a Maine House rep, writes in to TalkingPointsMemo about the view from the floor:
I'm a state rep from Bangor, Maine, and I'm in the chamber of the state House of Representatives right now as we "debate" LD 1020, Maine's marriage equality bill, which was passed by the senate last week.
I'm struck by how overwhelmingly the balance of representatives today have spoken in favor - on both sides. A Republican representative known for being a staunch conservative gave an exceptional and moving floor speech early on this morning in which he said he realized "this is not about me" and announced his support.
Yes, there's the feeling of being a part of history, and yes, there's the camaraderie of righteousness that comes from being on the right side of a pivotal issue - but the mood here very much feels like this movement is more inevitable than it was even a month ago.
Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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