Vermont is Voting for History!
April 7, 2009
Marty Rouse, HRC’s National field director, is right in the middle of the action in Montpelier and he’s doing everything to secure the votes necessary to override Gov. Douglas’s veto of the marriage bill. Read his updates from the last few moments before the vote:
Tuesday, 8:29 AM: The Statehouse is filling up with advocates wearing VT Freedom to Marry stickers. The legislative whips are scurrying around with paper and pen checking off who is already here and reconfirming votes. Anxious smiles everywhere. Tuesday, 6:21 AM: “That’s weird.” As I was putting my 8 year-old son Sasha to bed the night before I headed up to Vermont, he asked me why I was going there. Me: “Well, there is going to be a big vote there to see if men will be allowed to marry men and women can marry women.” Sasha: “But you and Papa are married, right?” Me: “Well, you know we are partners, right? And we have something called a civil union. It is like being married, but not exactly. In most places in our country men can’t marry men and women can’t marry women.” Sasha: “That’s weird.” Tuesday, 5:18 AM: Last night, Senator Shumlin, his wife Deb and I were the last guests at Sarducci’s restaurant (Sarducci’s is the popular hangout for all political types. Without discussing beforehand, we each ordered the same pasta dish. For me it was proof that we are all thinking alike right now on every level). We were on our cell phones trying to find forgotten names and past House members who could possibly make the difference with a current member. Even our waitress was empathizing with our plight. I’ve been awake in bed for 30 minutes already. I can’t fall back asleep. My mind keeps racing- thinking who I could meet with before the vote for one last plea. What should I say that could make a member pause and consider voting for the override (or at least not be present for the vote). I have 2 meetings set for 9 a.m. Will I say the wrong thing? At 7 am, in just over 2 hours I will be talking over (lots of) coffee with Senate and House leaders about our collective last minute thoughts. I know of at least four people we will be calling at 7:30 a.m. Each knows a legislator well and will make one final pitch. I also found out that Howard Dean returned from Europe a day early. He has the most recent target list and most of them served while he was Governor. Read previous posts on Vermont:
- Vermont legislators to vote on overriding marriage bill veto; HRC’s national field director heads to Montpelier
- Five Votes From Making History in Vermont
- TODAY: Vermont House to debate marriage equality bill
- Howard Dean urges passages of Vermont marriage bill
- Vermont Governor Announces Veto Threat for Marriage Bill
- Vermont marriage bill: Teenagers give a personal face to fight for marriage equality
- BREAKING: Vermont Senate votes 26-4 to pass marriage equality bill; Bill now heads to House
- Vermont Senate to Vote on Marriage Bill
- Overflow crowds jam Vermont State Capitol for marriage hearing
