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Compromise reached on NH gay marriage bill
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Issue
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| Contributor | Homegrown Democrat |
| Last Edited | Homegrown Democrat May 30, 2009 12:22am |
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| Category | Proposed Legislation |
| Media | Newspaper - Boston Globe |
| News Date | Friday, May 29, 2009 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | CONCORD, N.H.—House and Senate negotiators on Friday agreed to add one sentence and change one word in a bill that will determine whether the state allows gay marriage.
Both chambers have approved bills to legalize same-sex marriage, but Gov. John Lynch later demanded additional language to make it clear that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or to provide services, facilities and goods of any kind to participants.
The Senate passed legislation to satisfy Lynch, but the House narrowly rejected it last week. The compromise reached Friday barely changes it.
The new version, which is expected to come up for a vote Wednesday, adds a sentence specifying that all religious organizations, associations or societies have exclusive control over their religious doctrines, policies, teachings and beliefs on marriage. It also clarifies that church-related organizations that serve charitable or educational purposes are exempt from having to provide insurance and other benefits to same sex spouses of employees. The earlier version said "charitable and educational" instead of "charitable or educational."
The changes amount to slightly stronger language than what Lynch proposed, and the governor approves of the revisions. |
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