News (USA)

New Hampshire legislature expected to vote on repealing gay marriage law

New Hampshire legislature expected to vote on repealing gay marriage law

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill to repeal the state’s marriage equality law as early as next week.

A senior legislative assistant, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that a vote on the measure has tentatively been scheduled for next Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Both sides of the same-sex marriage debate expect the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill that would replace the law legalizing same-sex marriage with civil unions for any unmarried adults. The measure would also allow anyone to refuse to recognize civil unions.

The measure is also expected to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Democratic Governor John Lynch, who, in 2009, signed the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Hampshire, has publicly stated he will veto any effort to repeal the law.

Senate Republican Leader Jeb Bradley said he can’t predict if there will be enough votes needed to override the Governor’s veto.

New Hampshire is currently one of only six states, along with the District of Columbia, where same-sex marriage is legal — New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Vermont are the remaining five states.

A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll conducted last October found that 62 percent of registered New Hampshire voters support the state’s marriage equality law, and nearly 44 percent of those polled said they would consider voting against any lawmaker who supported the repeal bill.

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