Legislature Stalls Vote on Marriage Amendment Vote
Continue Reading 11 comments May 9th, 2007
Posts filed under 'Gay Marriage'
Deval Patrick To Legislature: Screw The State Constitution
Continue Reading 40 comments January 2nd, 2007
Senator Moore Says Voters Should Have A Say on the Gay “Marriage” Issue
Continue Reading 24 comments November 28th, 2006
We Will Not Be Silent
Yesterday, Karen Reddy had the opportunity to speak at the State House along with Governor Mitt Romney and several other distinguished leaders about the legislature’s deliberate ignoring of the of the State Constitution. Her job was to represent the average citizen who was willing to take the time to participate in government by gathering signatures for a citizen’s petition. Posted below are her remarks.
Last year I would have described myself as a concerned citizen. I was asked if I would like to volunteer my time with VoteOnMarriage in an effort to collect signatures for a citizens’ petition that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. At the time I was new college graduate working a full time job with a demand on my schedule between work, family, and church commitments, but I recognized the importance of this issue and decided to give of my time. We worked long hard hours from the day we received those blank petitions until the day that we turned them in. Weekends that could have been spent going apple picking, watching soccer games, or going to the fair were spent driving from town to town picking up petitions from volunteers all over Essex County. Weekday evenings that could have been spent leisurely watching my favorite T.V. show or meeting up with friends for dinner, were spent on the phone organizing and encouraging fellow signature gatherers. I had the good fortune of working along side many great people from the Essex County area. We all believed in the legal process by which our state constitution grants us to petition the government. We all believed that if we worked hard and collected the number of signatures required that our legislators in due process would vote on the matter. We all believed that 170,000 voices could not possibly be ignored. We all believed in democracy and participation in government.
However, I stand here today as an outraged citizen. After all the hard work that we put in collecting over twice as many signatures as required 100 legislators felt it unnecessary to vote at the July constitutional convention conveniently postponing their duties until two days after the election. We all know that they voted to recess in July to avoid accountability on Election Day. No one was fooled by their blatant disregard of the peoples petition.
And then, as if we weren’t outraged enough, November 9th came and went, and to our dismay, again without a vote on the peoples petition. What more do we, as law-abiding citizens, need to do in order for our voice to be heard? I am concerned about the future for the ability of regular people like us to participate in government. Our constitution grants us the right to petition government and yet our legislature has flat out denied our rights. Their actions have said to me and to you that our rights are irrelevant. They have forgotten their oath of office and it is our responsibility to remind them. Which is why it is imperative that each of you call or write or personally visit both your senator and representative.
I would like to mention that on November 9th out of 196 legislators 87 voted not to recess and it is important to congratulate those individuals that stood up for democracy. Both my Senator & Representative voted not to recess in July and November. I wanted to publicly thank Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Harriet Stanley. Though Representative Stanley and I probably disagree on the outcome of the amendment, she has exemplified respect for the democratic process and a sense of duty to the oath that she took and I thank her for that.
Just remember we are expected to abide by the law. Doesn’t it make sense that our lawmakers be expected to abide by the law as well?
Join me in calling our State Senators and Representatives.
We will not be silent.
Thank you and God bless you all.
34 comments November 20th, 2006
