Judges matter. Yes, I'm still beating the drum for the conservative judges on the ballot in this year's primary, but that's because what judges do matters.
As the capital of democracy, perhaps Washington, D.C. should try exercising it. Unfortunately for District voters, one thing stands in their way: the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. Yesterday, its two sitting members tried to outmuscle the city's 591,833 residents by blocking a referendum that would allow D.C. voters to preserve the definition of marriage in the nation's capital.
According to the Board's 12-page opinion, upholding the people's right to vote would have somehow violated the District's Human Rights Act. Since D.C. is home to the original copies of the U.S. Constitution, perhaps city leaders should make an effort to read them. It begins with "We the People"--not We the Board of Elections or We the City Council. Yesterday's decision by Chairman Errol Arthur and Charles Lowery is a blow to community values and the principle of self-governance. In jurisdiction after jurisdiction nationwide--30 in all--the American people have exercised their right to vote on the redefinition of marriage in an orderly and just way. The situation in D.C. is no different. Representative government can't be a one-way street. If the D.C. City Council has the right to amend or not amend the law, the District's voters deserve the same opportunity.
May 14 is the "crossover" deadline at the General Assembly. Most bills must pass either the House or Senate by this date or they cannot be considered for the remainder of this session. This is one of the busiest weeks of the session, with many bills reported from committees after receiving their due by having a hearing and up or down vote. Unfortunately this is not the case for many other significant pieces of legislation favored by a majority of NC citizens.
Editor's note: The following is a release from the Republican Legislative Caucus.
Raleigh - Senate and House Republicans today called on Legislative Democrats to allow bills currently in committee but not yet scheduled for a hearing this week a chance to advance to a floor vote by the "crossover deadline." This deadline requires most bills to pass one of the chambers by May 14th or lose eligibility for further consideration.
"This year, as in years past, a number of introduced bills are sent to committee and are never heard of again," said Berger. "Many of these bills are supported by a majority of our citizens. Democrats have refused to allow debate or votes on these proposals. It is past time for a more open process in the North Carolina General Assembly -- one in which a bill, if filed, is entitled to a committee hearing."
"We have a full agenda this week. However, too often it is full of the wrong things," said Stam.
See a list of bills, and what the Democrats consider a priority, after the jump.
I have to admit I was deeply saddened to hear about the move by the Vermont Legislature this week to redefine marriage to be simply between "two people" and not "one man and one woman".
A lot of liberals feel that opposition to gay marriage is simply another form of homophobia. Maybe that is true for some people, but I can honestly say that my sadness about this action does not arise because of anything I feel about homosexuality at all.
