HRC’s National Field Director Marty Rouse is en route to Vermont today in anticipation of the state legislature’s vote to override Governor Jim Douglas’s (R) veto of the recently-passed marriage bill. He’ll be sending updates from the road and during his efforts to help build the 10o votes needed to override the governor’s veto. Keep checking this post for the latest updates. If Vermont legislators successfully override the veto, the state will join Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa in offering marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples:
Monday, 11:20 pm:
Senate President pro Tem Peter Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith meet in Sen Shumlin’s office around 7pm to assess.
We are one vote short.
One legislator who publicly said he will vote to override on Friday was told by his wife never to come home if he votes to override. Family first. So he will not vote to override. Lost a vote. This is very personal.
Having worked hard to elect Shap Smith when he first ran for office and having worked with Peter Shumlin over a dozen years ago to help him go from minority leader to the majority, I know them both very well.
Sen. Shumlin, his wife Deb and I head out to dinner. I ask her if she minds all this talk about politics. She responds “are you kidding? This is history. We need to get one more vote and we can do it. Get on your phones. ” I love her.
As she is eating her pasta she casually mentions how she remembers during the 2000 elections after the legislature voted for civil unions how she and her daughters Olivia and Rebecca woke up to see one of her husband’s election signs that had a profile of him on it, stuck in the ground next to their mailbox with bullet holes shot through the head.
She stops still and with eyes piercing into mine says “that scared all of us.”
Peter and I make calls during dinner and we have a few legislators and others still making calls well past 9pm.
The House Speaker tells us that he’s headed to drive and make two personal visits at House members’ homes.
Sen Shumlin speaks with a political player at 8:30pm. He pledges to make two calls.
I speak with two political acquaintances who I haven’t spoken with in years and they agree to make a few calls. Everyone understands that we are one vote from history.
Over two VT draft beers and dinner, I received six emails and Peter Shumlin took two calls. Peter’s wife Deb sees a friend in the restaurant and she comes over. She says, “Big vote tomorrow, eh?” We proceed to tell her we are one vote short. Her legislator is against us so she agrees to call when she gets home. I give her message pts. She calls us as we are having coffee and gives us his wife’s comments on why he is opposed to the override vote. I give her counter arguments and she agrees to call him at 8am, one hour before the vote.
We head to Sen Shumlin’s home in Montpelier, where they offer me their extra bedroom and a nightcap glass of wine.
The three of us plot strategy and agree on who will call whom in the morning. I email former VT Governor Howard Dean, asking him to make last minute calls (as he successfully did in Massachusetts during their marriage amendment fight). He returns from a trip to Europe late tonight.
I also have two breakfast meetings set up with longshot legislators who I recruited to run for office years ago.
Just before we all head to bed, the House Speaker calls Senator Shumlin for the last update. It is completely confidential.
But I know that we have work to do in the morning….
State Senate convenes at 9 am to consider override vote. They have votes to spare.
It is all about the House. They convene at 10am.
Here we go……
Monday, 5:30 pm:
Inside the State House now.
The senate just concurred on the marriage bill. So both houses have now passed it. It is on the Senate Secretary’s desk and will be sent to the governor now. TV cameras await the governor who is about to veto.
Tension fills the air.
Upon arriving in Montpelier, I went to senate president pro Tem’s office. Five Senators huddled discussing how to get the few votes we need.
House Speaker Shap Smith came in and, after a brief meeting, I went with him to his office. His office was filled with members nervous about votes. The majority whip was on the phone with a religious leader calling his legislator.
Everyone is unsure of this vote.
Monday, 1:04 pm:
Arrived in Vermont an hour ago. The air somehow smells fresher across the border. Even though the sky is as gray as my Prius and it started to drizzle, nothing can rain on the marriage parade.
Even the rest stops in VT are beautiful. I am writing this blog sitting in a hand-crafted wooden rocking chair looking out a wall-length window looking out up at the (just beginning to turn) Green Mountains.
UPDATE: Took a cell phone call about a few wavering votes on both sides. This is going to be a hectic day. Senate votes at 5pm to concur with House bill; so the marriage bill is now likely to arrive on Governor Douglas’ desk tonight.
More later….
Monday, 9:23 am:
On 91 North. Just crossed from the Nutmeg state into the Bay State, the first state to bring marriage equality to our country.
It’s great to be back here, even if it is only for a pitstop. But it is nostalgic to stop in Northampton, since I was there on May 17, 2004 to help witness the first day of marriage here, and was at city Hall with one of the plaintiff couples.
And how can I not get my caffeine fix at Dunkin’?
Just love New England.
Monday – 6:23 AM:
After a cup of hazelnut coffee and a buttered bagel, said goodbye to mom and am headed to Long Island Expressway in my Prius. I should be in Montpelier in 7 hours.
Sunday, April 5 - 10:44 pm EST:
On Saturday, I dropped off at my office a Vermont state flag given to me by my campaign staff in 1996 when I worked in VT to run Bill Clinton’s reelection there. We focused on winning the VT senate and turned around a 18R-12D chamber into a 17D-13R chamber, by netting 5 seats. That helped set up the majority that ended up passing civil unions in 2000.
While trying not to put the cart before the horse, I brought in this sentimental flag hoping that it will be raised above the HRC building Tuesday afternoon upon the override of the Governor’s veto. If all members are present we will need 100 votes to make history, making Vermont the first state to enact marriage equality solely by legislative action. (More American history: VT was the first state to ban slavery).
Fingers-crossed for success on Tuesday.
I am in NY and will drive the 7 hours from here to Montpelier at 5:30am tomorrow. I will be meeting with Senate President pro Tem Peter Shumlin, House leadership, and a few legislators who are not yet on board with an override vote.
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Review previous posts on Vermont:
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