civil unions in ct?

[cassandra uprising]

sb 963 an act concerning civil unions passed the ct state senate 27/9 yesterday and will most likely pass the house. i've heard that the house may vote on the bill on monday. i'll be you posted. (no pun intended) i don't know if my stomach can take all this.

the gov may sign the bill. she's very popular and if both the senate and the house are giving her strong votes in the affirmative, how could she not?

a friend of mine is a reporter wnpr and she feels pretty strongly that the gov will sign it.

we couldn't end the death penalty. with mike ross, there wasn't a rep from eastern ct who could have voted for the bill. it would have been political suicide. (the bill would have waved the death penalty to ct's 8 currently on death row)

but it is very possible that civil unions could pass and be signed into law. there is no language in the bill that defines marriage, civil unions in ct won't be recognized in other states, and won't have any federal recognition or benefits.

stayed tuned and stay strong in the fight for civil rights.

[LynzM]

1. If they don't get federal recognition

Doesn't that mean that they still have to file jointly for income tax? (Just curious, not saying it's a bad idea)

I think it's good that it will be signed (hopefully), but bad that it will be done with so many caveats...

[cassandra uprising]

2. they will get a break on state taxes

from the office of legislative research

http://cgalites/2005/ba/2005SB-00963-R000024-BA.htm

co-chair of the judiciary committee sen. madonald noted that it falls short, because while separate is not equal, it's a step in the right direction. i also think that if the language of the bill included more rights or mention of 'gay marriage' the bill probably would have died on the floor.

i'm no political scientist, but that's the sense i've been getting from watching the debates.

[LynzM]

3. Link broken?

I was under the impression that you could not file state and federal taxes differently. Do you just mean that a tax break will be built into the tax structure to recognize the union, until such (@#$$!!!) time as the fed. gov't will recognize it?

[cassandra uprising]

5. sorry about that, here's the real link to cv bill

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/ba/2005SB-00963-R000024-BA.htm

i was copying from my intranet, sorry 'bout that.

i think you're right about the federal recognition part.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. I think it would be in Jodi's best interest to vote for it