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Pledge of allegiance. Quorum.
Representative Connolly of |
JOURNAL OF THE SENATE IN JOINT
SESSION.
Joint Session of the Two Houses to ConsiderSpecific
Amendments to the Constitution. At four minutes past JOINT SESSION and were called to order by the Honorable Robert E. Travaglini, President of the Senate. The President, members, guests and employees then recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
At six minutes past
The
President in the Chair, the yeas and nays having been completed at seventeen
minutes past Statement of Representative Connolly of A statement of Representative Connolly of MR. PRESIDENT: I would like to call to the attention of the Joint Session that I will be unable to be present in the House Chamber for today’s Joint Session due to medical concerns that keep me confined to my office. Any quorum roll calls that I may miss today is due entirely to the reason stated. The Proposal for a Legislative Amendment to the Constitution relative to the affirmation of marriage (Senate, No. 5) [see Senate, No. 3190, amended of 2004] was read, the question being on again agreeing to the amendment. The Proposal was as follows:--
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT The unified purpose of this Article is both to define the institution of civil marriage and to establish civil unions to provide same-sex persons with entirely the same benefits, protections, rights, privileges and obligations as are afforded to married persons, while recognizing that under present federal law same-sex persons in civil unions will be denied federal benefits available to married persons. It being the public policy of this commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of marriage, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in the commonwealth. Two persons of the same sex shall have the right to form a civil union if they otherwise meet the requirements set forth by law for marriage. Civil unions for same sex persons are established by this Article and shall provide entirely the same benefits, protections, rights, privileges and obligations that are afforded to persons married under the law of the commonwealth. All laws applicable to marriage shall also apply to civil unions. During
debate, Mr. Barrios moved that the remarks of Representative Kennedy of Remarks of Representative Kennedy of Dear
Members and Colleagues of the Great and General Court: Thank you for
allowing Representative Teahan to read this statement on my behalf. Much has
changed since we last met to discuss this historic matter in this hallowed
chamber. In February 2004, as we endlessly debated procedural motions
and compromise amendments, I felt that we scarcely scratched the surface of
the matter at hand. Many of us thought that legal wrangling
by the Governor and others would postpone the effective date of the Of course, we
know that this was not the case. The legal roadblocks that many
attempted to establish in order to prevent same-sex
marriage failed, and these couples have had this freedom for 16
months. Having keenly observed these events over the past year and a
half; having seen the joy on the faces of those who have married their
long-time partners; having heard the stories of families made whole; and
having witnessed the power of our nation’s oldest Constitution in action, I
cannot again vote to support this measure. To support the
Compromise Amendment now, after same-sex couples have had the right to marry
for over a year, would be wrong. How can one justify taking away a
constitutionally protected liberty? How can we not treat these couples,
and the children they are raising, as fully equal? My fellow
members, it should not be our place to take rights and freedoms away from the
citizens of Although I am
still confined to the hospital and awaiting additional surgery, I am
following very closely the legislative issues and matters that are before the
General Court. Thank you again for your kind attention and for allowing
me to make my thoughts known to the Convention. Good luck and God bless you all. Sincerely, Thomas P. Kennedy State Representative 9th Plymouth District
After further consideration, Ms. Murray moved that a
vote be taken forthwith on the main question on again agreeing to the
amendment; and, there being no objection, the question on again agreeing to
the amendment was taken by a call of the yeas and nays, as required by
Article XLVIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, at a quarter before
three o'clock P.M., as follows, to wit (yeas 39 - nays 157) [Senate Yeas and Nays No. 139] [House
Yeas and Nays No. 174]:
The yeas and
nays having been completed at Without further action on the matters duly and
constitutionally assigned for consideration, on motion of Mr. Lees, at one
minute past |
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