NH becomes 6th state to legalize gay marriage

Gay marriage bill signed into law in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage Wednesday in a move that reflects the state's changing demographics from reliably Republican and conservative to younger and more liberal.

The Senate and House passed key language on religious rights, Gov. John Lynch — who personally opposes gay marriage — signed the legislation Wednesday afternoon.

Lynch, a Democrat, had promised a veto if the law didn't clearly spell out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or provide other services. Legislators made the changes.

"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law," Lynch said.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa already allow gay marriage, though opponents hope to overturn Maine's law with a public vote.

This is awesome. Way to go New Hampshire!!

To the opponents of gay marriage: fuck you. Just because you hate homosexuals and don't agree with gay marriage doesn't mean you should get to dictate what rights they should and shouldn't have. What you think shouldn't matter at all. No one gives a shit what you think. And before you start bringing out the bible bullshit, let me inform you of this: marriage has shit to do with religion. All marriage is, legally, is a piece of paper. Got that? There are many legal reasons for gay couples to get married just as there is for straight couples. Ok? So leave your precious religion out of this. It's not even an issue. If the church doesn't wanna marry two homosexuals, then they shouldn't have to. It's their choice. No one has to be religious to get married anyway, so it shouldn't even be an issue.

I don't understand the opposition to gay marriage at all. If two people, regardless of gender, love each other, then what is it to you? How does that bother you? Why does it bother you? I don't get it. Only answer I can come up with is: hatred.

Gay marriage shouldn't have been on the ballot in California or anywhere else for that matter. Who is the majority to decide what rights the minority should have? I'm hoping that all of these states are able to remain "gay-friendly" and that the homophobes won't overturn the legislation like they did in California. California voting against gay marriage really surprised me. I mean, it is one of the most liberal states in the country. Are Californians fucking retarded? Do they realize what they've done? Their state is in fiscal ruin and they don't realize how gay marriage could benefit their economy and the state's bank book. They have no idea. Instead, they let their hatred rule over all. It's sad. Really sad.

Schwarzenegger Vows To Veto Democrats' Budget Plan

SACRAMENTO (AP) --Democratic lawmakers on Thursday pushed through an $18 billion package of cuts and tax increases to reduce California's burgeoning budget deficit, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said it didn't go far enough and immediately said he would not sign it.

He said lawmakers sent him a "terrible budget" that didn't make deep enough cuts or include the kind of economic stimulus he wanted to boost California's ailing economy.

"This proposal that they've sent and this package that they are sending down does really only do one thing, and this is punish the people of California," he said at a news conference shortly after the vote.

Democrats and Republicans have been unable to compromise on a way to address a deficit that is expected to hit $42 billion in the next 18 months. Schwarzenegger first called them into a special session to tackle the problem on Nov. 5.

In a sign that the impasse was taking a toll, a state panel on Wednesday voted to stop lending money for an estimated 2,000 infrastructure projects statewide through June, an unprecedented move that the board said was necessary because California can no longer afford the work.

California has not been able to borrow money for months and faces a cash shortage in February.

The package passed Thursday would have generated another $9.3 billion in general fund revenue by replacing gasoline taxes with a variety of fees.

It would have raised the taxes Californians pay on gas by about 13 cents, replacing an 18-cent-a-gallon excise tax and a fluctuating sales tax with a 39-cent-per-gallon fee; raised the state sales tax by ¾ of a cent; tax oil produced in California; boosted personal income taxes by a 2.5 percent; and collected taxes from independent contractors upfront.

The shortfall for the fiscal year that ends in June is nearly $14 billion, about 10 percent of the state's $144.5 billion budget. But that hole is expected to grow in the next fiscal year unless lawmakers cut spending, raise revenue or do a combination of the two.

CBS5

What? Are these Californian Democrats nuts? They want to raise taxes in this faltering economy? The state has the highest taxes in the country and apparently that is not enough to keep a balanced budget!?! What is this bullshit? Cut the fucking spending! You're the largest state in the country. Get your act together. You have an 18 billion dollar deficit. Then cut 18 billion dollars worth of spending! Its that simple.

What are they spending all this money on?

Raising taxes in this faltering economy will NOT fix California's problems, it will only make them worse. The only logical solution is to drastically cut spending.

NO on Prop 8

I'm hoping that Californians defeat Proposition 8 which declares gay marriage illegal. I was under the impression that gay marriage was already legal in California. Why did they have to put it back on the November ballot? One ruling wasn't good enough?

I voted against a similar proposition here in Arizona. Prop 102 declares marriage between a man and a woman. I consider marriage a commitment between two adults. I don't believe that anyone should be discriminated against because of who they love. Be it a male and a female, two males or two females. To me, marriage is a piece of paper legalizing a bond between two people.

The opponents of gay marriage want to protect marriage. What does that mean? They want to reserve marriage just for a man and a woman? Save marriage? I don't understand. If two homosexuals want to get married, why does it bother you? Don't you believe that everyone should have equal rights? I think they should. How does gay marriage hurt a marriage between a man and a woman? It's the same thing. Right?

I often hear people say, "oh let people keep their sex life in the bedroom." I'm sorry, but, the pursuit of gay marriage is not just about sex. A marriage is necessary for legal issues like insurance. You know, I find it repulsive that hospitals will not let a homosexual visit his or her partner in the hospital. Why won't a hospital not allow a homosexual to visit their partner in the hospital? What is this bullshit about family only? A loving partner is considered family in my book.

Please, America. Let's end this discrimination of homosexuals. The only difference between heterosexuals and homosexuals is the people they love. Love is something that is lacking in this world, don't ya think? To hate someone because of who they love is narrow mindedness. All homosexuals want is the same rights that heterosexuals have: the right to marry the person they love. Give them equality, vote no on proposition 8 and any other discriminatory bills that come along in the future. Make gay marriage legal.