Washblog || Referendum-71 Status and a few thoughts

Referendum-71 Status and a few thoughts

By BryanK
Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 07:31:09 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Social Justice

[Front paged: NM]

At the current time it looks like R-71 will have enough signatures to get on the ballot. We need to make the fight about rights, not religion or the sanctity of marriage.

As of Friday, July 31, the Secretary of State's website confirms (click here for press release) that Protect Marriage Washington has submitted 137,689 signatures. During the first day of signature-verification over 5,000 voter signatures were scrutinized and the error rate was 11.34%. They need 120,577 valid signatures to get on the ballot, so they have about a 14% cushion. If the current rate hold up, they would have 121,715 valid signatures and successfully place the referendum on the ballot. As Casey Stengle said "It ain't over 'till it's over", but right now it looks like they will have enough signatures to get this on the ballot.

After Proposition 8 in California I doubt anyone will be complacent about this. Make no mistake, the sponsors of this referendum will fight hard, and we must also. The sponsors of this bill wish to send a message of bigotry. They wish to send a message that homosexuals do not have rights. The sponsors want to say "You are not allowed to live as we live. You are not allowed to love as we love." It is up to us to send a message back: Washington has no place for bigotry!

This fight is not about religion. It is not about the sanctity of marriage. This is about the rights of loving, committed people to care for each other. To be responsible to each other. To find joy and meaning in their lives by bonding with the person of their choice. It is a fight we must win. It is a fight we will win. Lets go do it.

< The game is ... ON!! | PCO 36-1392 Neighbor Statement. >

Referendum-71 Status and a few thoughts | 18 comments (18 topical)

It's also about older heterosexual couples.

Don't ever miss the opportunity to remind people that unmarried heterosexual couples also can (and do) get a domestic partnership if at least one spouse is 62 or older. This isn't only about gay families, this is about Washington families.

Besides properly framing the issue as you suggest, each of us needs to be sure that everyone we know knows to vote APPROVE in November.

Referendum 71 voters will be asked to approve or reject the domestic partnership law.

REFERENDUM 71
Ballot Title
Statement of Subject: The legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners [and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill].
Concise Description: This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.
Should this bill be:
Approved _
Rejected _
Ballot Measure Summary
Same-sex couples, or any couple that includes one person age sixty-two or older, may register as a domestic partnership with the state. Registered domestic partnerships are not marriages, and marriage is prohibited except between one man and one woman. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of registered domestic partners and their families to include all rights, responsibilities, and obligations granted by or imposed by state law on married couples and their families.

DONATE TO WASHINGTON FAMILIES STANDING TOGETHER !
PRINT AND DISTRIBUTE HANDOUTS AND PLACARDS !

by Lurleen on Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 02:01:59 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

It's a civil right

Anyone claiming that the domestic partnership act is an extension of "special rights" is ignoring the fact that their position is actually aimed at carving out an unconstitutional exception to a civil right. period. end of sentence.

by microveldt on Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 02:35:06 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Update

After a second day of checking the Secretary of State's office has gone through 11,000 signatures and the rejection rate remains at about 12.31%.

Also, I agree with both of the comments.

by BryanK on Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 07:07:10 PM PST

* 3 none 0 *

IF You Want To WIN, It is ABOUT

whatever reality based

SOUNDBITES

work the best.

I'd heard recently that when you write a song, you have to accomadate how much a singer can sing before breathing ... ah ... wow ... ah ... DUH.

NOTICE when barack speaks, all those big beautiful sentences and big beautiful paragraphs and big beautiful idea are broken down and delivered

notice when barack speaks,
all those big beautiful sentences,
and big beautiful paragraphs,
and big beautiful ideas,
are broken down
and deliverd SO EVERYONE AND ANYONE CAN FALLOW.

IF you can ONLY write
sentences, paragraphs and f'ing tomes,
stay the hell outta messaging.

Wanna win?

WE GOT THE FACTS

WHO F'KING CARES?

If we don't, can't or won't
do the soundbites,
then don't waste your time.

rmm.
and big bea

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Mon Aug 03, 2009 at 09:43:35 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

thought you... by m3047, 08/03/2009 09:57:21 PM PST (none / 0)
suggestions? by Lurleen, 08/03/2009 10:36:53 PM PST (none / 0)

putting words in Comrade SeaBos' mouth: danger! by m3047, 08/04/2009 12:36:14 AM PST (none / 0)

ok, but examples are still welcome by Lurleen, 08/04/2009 08:59:10 AM PST (none / 0)

while I'm on career #3, communications by rmdSeaBos, 08/04/2009 09:19:17 PM PST (none / 0)

Now... wait...

I thought this initiative was BAD, but now that it might be validated there is some question about how it is worded... and therefore what we're supposed to do is vote FOR it to preserve domestic partnerships.

I'm not a rube, I understand that this is a referendum. Here's what I don't get.

Legislature votes that things that go fizzBOOM! and blow off fingers are BAD. Then they get cold feet or too much fizz or whipped cream made with NOx themselves, and say "ooohhherrr, no no, the PEOPLE must decide such a MOMENTOUS issue" and so they make it a referendum.

And what the referendum language says is:

"YES: all things which go fizzBOOM! and blow off fingers must be deployed from larger bomb units. NO: it is acceptable for them to look like cups full of flavored ice dispensed from yon major fast food outlet".

What frosts my cookies.. girds my loins, if you will.. is the apparent disconnect between what was originally intended... as I understood it... and the choices which I am now offered.

Of course: maybe I misunderstood what was originally intended?

Or is the Legislature just all gone huffing?

by m3047 on Tue Aug 04, 2009 at 12:48:00 AM PST

* 8 none 0 *

..no..really... by m3047, 08/04/2009 01:16:23 AM PST (none / 0)
Different types of referendums by BryanK, 08/04/2009 07:13:56 AM PST (none / 0)
i'm under the impression by Lurleen, 08/04/2009 09:06:14 AM PST (none / 0)
what I'm confused about.. by m3047, 08/05/2009 01:25:25 AM PST (none / 0)

To preserve the new DP law, vote APPROVED by Lurleen, 08/05/2009 01:04:25 PM PST (none / 0)

just keep it simple n/t by m3047, 08/06/2009 12:10:44 AM PST (none / 0)

As of Tuesday evening

the numbers are looking good for us. BUT! We we're only 3 days into a month of counting, so we cannot afford to get distracted and complacent. Please go to WAFST.org and see what you can do to help insure a win at the ballot box.

In November, APPROVE Ref. 71!

by Lurleen on Tue Aug 04, 2009 at 08:37:52 PM PST

* 13 none 0 *

TAX THE POLITICALLY ACTIVIST CHURCHES!!!

The churches are tax exempt. They pay no taxes while the rest of us do! The churches that pay for and are advocate on this very political issue (Ref 71) should be taxed! They've crossed over that line that separates church and state! Tax the churches! We could use the money to pay for schools and children's health care! Tax the churches now!

by Jay1978 on Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 10:15:52 PM PST

* 18 none 0 *

Referendum-71 Status and a few thoughts | 18 comments (18 topical)

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