NH update from Marty Rouse
May 20, 2009
During a House recess I walked downstairs to look around this historic building. The NH state house is our country's oldest where legislators still meet where they always have. I found a plaque from 1926 in honor of the pilgrims who sailed here to freedom on the Mayflower in 1620: "Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced....so the light here kindled hath shone to many in some sort to our whole nation." We are all pilgrims for freedom today. 
I just saw House Speaker Terie Norelli as she was finishing her lunch. After I wished her luck and our thanks, she said, "I am so looking forward to putting my signature on the marriage bill later today (and sending it to the Governor). With a cautious smile she said, "I think we'll be OK, but a lot of members are not here today." The sound just rung to reconvene. I am sitting in the front row of the House gallery. I look down on a Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington that hangs in the center of the House chamber wall. He is witnessing this historic day in America. Here we go..... 
UPDATE: Sitting in the gallery next to Ray Buckley, the openly gay chair of state Democratic Party directors. Also with me are BishopGene Robinson and Mo Baxley of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry. Early votes on other bills show that the opposition is riled up. Normal voice votes are turning into counting votes since when Speaker Norelli says, "All those opposed, signify by saying No," the minority bellow as loudly as possible, NOOOOO!!!!" You can feel the tension building.
