April 24th, 2013
As expected, the Rhode Island Senate this afternoon gave its approval to a set of bills which will provide marriage equality to the Ocean State’s same-sex couples. In a historic first, the 26-12 vote included “yes” votes from all five of the chamber’s Republican senators. The Senators also rejected a proposed amendment which would have placed the question before voters.
Due to changes made to the Senate version of the legislation, it now goes back to the House, which had already approved an earlier version in January in a 51-19 vote. The House is expected to give its final approval to the legislation on on May 2, where it will then go to Governor Lincoln Chafee for his promised signature.
Rhode Island will become the tenth state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to provide marriage equality when the law goes into effect August 1.
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Mark F.
April 24th, 2013
And all 12 votes against were Democrats.
Chris McCoy
April 24th, 2013
Here’s the breakdown of today’s vote:
Yes:
Algiere
Archambault
Bates
Conley
Cool Rumsey
Crowley
Da Ponte
Doyle
Fogarty
Gallo
Goldin
Goodwin
Hodgson
Jabor
Kettle
Lombardo
Lynch
Miller
Nesselbush
Ottiano
Pearson
Pichardo
Raptakis
Satchell
Sheehan
Sosnowski
No:
Ciccone
Cote
DiPalma
Felag
Lombardi
McCaffrey
Metts
O’Neill
Picard
Ruggerio
Walaska
Paiva Weed
Jean-Michel
April 25th, 2013
“And all 12 votes against were Democrats.”
Almost right: Edward O’Neill (one of the twelve nos) is an independent who runs against Democrats (Republicans don’t run in his district).
Doug Johnson
April 25th, 2013
Well, it’s the first time all votes against marriage equality include no Republicans.
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