Hearings
Begin on Vt. Same-Sex Marriage Bill

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.