Reports Indicate Mass Governor May Ignore Gay Marriage Order [View All]

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Reports Indicate Mass Governor May Ignore Gay Marriage Order

(Boston, Massachusetts) Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is reportedly considering ignoring a court order allowing same-sex couples to begin marrying in May. Among the possibilities is an executive order barring the state Public Health Department from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling takes effect on May 17.

A spokesperson for Romney said lawyers for the Republican governor are looking at a number of options, all within " the bounds of the law."

No decision is expected until after the Legislature resumes its deliberations on a proposed constitutional amendment barring gay marriage.

Last week two meetings of a joint session of the House and Senate failed to pass proposals and legislators will return to the issue on March 11. (story) Even if a proposed amendment is passed by the legislature it would need to be passed a second time in the next sitting of the body and the earliest it could be put to voters would be 2006, two years after the court mandated same-sex couples could marry

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Reports Indicate Mass Governor May Ignore Gay Marriage Order