Lincoln County legislators say the same sex marriage bill, which cleared the House of Representatives Tuesday, triggered passionate responses and even threats from voters on both sides of the issue.
No matter whether or not the governor signs the bill, legislators including Republican State Sen. David Trahan of Waldoboro and Democrat Rep. Lisa Miller of Somerville predict the voters will probably have the final word on the question.
Following a three-hour debate, the House passed the measure 89 to 58 after rejecting an amendment calling for it to be submitted to the voters in a referendum. The matter is expected to go to the governor later in the week. Gov. John E. Baldacci has not indicated if he will sign it.
Trahan said he had received passionate, very passionate, communications from the voters on both sides of the issue, but he still opposed it.
“Before the election, I told folks I was against it and this is a matter of keeping my word,” he said.
Newcastle Republican Jonathan B. McKane said the issue raised intense concern from voters. “I got strong opinions on both sides,” he said. He opposed the bill.
Republican Les Fossel of Alna, who also was in opposition, warned the failure to compromise on both sides created a serious problem.
“We are about to start a cultural war and I don’t want to start a cultural war,” he said. “This is not about equal rights. I am for equal rights. This is changing the definition of marriage.”
Boothbay Democrat Bruce MacDonald, a supporter of the proposal, said his messages were running 4 to 1 in favor of the measure. He said it was not a Republican or Democrat party issue, but rather a matter of conscience. He called it a civil, not a religious, matter.
“We will let the state sanction a civil marriage and let the churches do what they want to do. Churches won’t be required to perform marriages they don’t want to perform and they won’t be penalized if they decline to marry a couple,” he said.
“It is a fairness and equality and justice issue,” he said.
If legislators believe the matter will ultimately be submitted to the voters, why did they defeat proposals that would have sent it to the people for a vote?
A referendum was a way to avoid making a decision on the question, said Miller.
“That is (a referendum) the chicken way out. It is a huge policy issue so we should speak to it, and we will,” said Miller.
No matter what way the representatives and senators vote, some say someone will be mad at them.
“There is not a good way out of it. No matter how I vote, I will make half of the folks in my district, people I respect, mad at me,” Miller said.
Fossel said the failure to submit the measure to a referendum, a proposal he championed, was just wrong.
“It is going to go to a people’s veto anyway so we should just stop messing around,” he said.
McKane said he just couldn’t go along with the proposal to legalize same sex marriage, but he admitted it was a no-win situation for legislators no matter what the final vote said.
In order to overturn a law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, supporters of a referendum will be required to gather 60,000 signatures on petitions. Should they be successful, it will be up the Secretary of State and the legislature to schedule the referendum, Trahan said.
