The Vermont senate
judiciary committee will open
five days of hearings
on same-sex marriage legislation today, including a public
hearing scheduled for Wednesday evening at the statehouse in
Montpelier. While Democratic leaders in the legislature say
they have enough votes to pass the legislation, it remains
unclear whether they can obtain a veto-proof majority. Gov. Jim
Douglas, a Republican, has said he opposes the legislation.
The hearing comes on
the heels of high-profile endorsements of marriage equality
from professional groups in the state, and a new study from the
Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law that predicted
same-sex marriage would generate $31 million for the Vermont
economy over the next three years.
The senate judiciary
committee expects to vote on the same-sex marriage
legislation on Friday.