Well, that didn't take long. The Maine legislature and the governor passed marriage equality laws in Maine set to take effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns in mid-June. And now, less than one month after the law passed and more than 100 days until the law takes hold, petitions are already being circulated for a "People's Veto" of the new law.
"Maine citizens have an amount of time, from when a bill is signed by the governor until it is effective, to collect and have verified a number of signatures of registered Maine voters equivalent to 10 percent of the total votes for governor in the last gubernatorial election in order to force a statewide vote on the measure.
The current threshold to force a so-called "people's veto" is 55,087 certified signatures. Petitioners have until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns to collect 55,087 signatures.
The secretary of state then has 30 days to certify the signatures.
If the secretary of state rules that sufficient signatures have been affixed on the instrument of petition, the stay continues until after the voters decide on the question at a statewide election." (Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel)
And once again equal rights are put to the capricious whims of the majority. The legislature in Maine had the boldness to stand up for what is right. Let's hope that the people have the moral fortitude to stand with them.
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