Vermont Governor Jim Douglas Says He Will Veto Gay Marriage Bill

March 26, 2009

BOSTON — Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont said Wednesday that he would veto a same-sex marriage bill if it reached his desk, setting a new hurdle for a measure that had been moving swiftly through the legislature.

But Mr. Douglas, a Republican, also said that “legislative leaders would not have advanced this bill if they did not have the votes to override a veto.”

Mr. Douglas opposes same-sex marriage but for weeks declined to say whether he would veto the bill, which the Democratic leaders of the Senate and House have embraced. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill Friday, and a House committee is hearing testimony on it this week.

In 2000, Vermont became the first state to allow civil unions for gay couples, which give them virtually all of the state rights and benefits of married couples. With the new measure, Vermont would be the third state, after Massachusetts and Connecticut, to allow same-sex marriage.

Mr. Douglas said in a statement that it was not his normal policy to announce whether he would veto a bill before it passed the legislature, but that the debate around same-sex marriage had grown too intense to avoid.

“During these extraordinary times,” he said, “the speculation about my decision has added to the anxiety of the moment and further diverts attention from our most pressing issues, and I cannot allow that to happen.”

Mr. Douglas, who has said civil unions provide enough rights and protections to gay couples, said he hoped his announcement would speed the debate so lawmakers could turn to more pressing matters, like the economy.

Some legislators reacted with disappointment to the governor’s statement, and said they were not confident about having enough votes to override a veto.

“For him to make that announcement before the legislative process is completed is really undermining democracy in some respects,” said Speaker Shap Smith.

Mr. Smith, Democrat of Morristown, said it was not yet clear how many House members would vote in favor of the bill; in the Senate, it passed 26 to 4. Democrats overwhelmingly control both chambers.

Beth Robinson, chairwoman of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, said she and other supporters of the bill would lobby Mr. Douglas to change his mind.

“I don’t write anybody off,” Ms. Robinson said. “There are thousands of voters who are going to be really disappointed and try to engage with the governor on this right away.”