Gay marriage bills heading for showdowns in Maine, Vermont

Support is growing for legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Maine. The bill now has more than 60 lawmakers as co-sponsors. Sen. Dennis Damon (D) said the legislators represent both Democrats and Republicans and that they come from Maine's smallest towns and largest cities. Normally no more than 10 lawmakers are allowed to sign on as co-sponsors of a bill, but Damon said 50 others sought to have their names added. The bill is expected to easily pass the committee stage when it comes up, but its future in the full legislature is uncertain. Last month, Maine's tourism industry said legalizing same-sex marriage in the state could save them from disaster as the state's economy continues to turn sour. Meanwhile in Vermont, Gov. James Douglas is speaking out against a gay marriage bill in that state. Douglas chastised the legislature for spending time on the bill when it should be focused on the economy. The governor stopped short of saying he would veto the bill if it passes the legislature, maintaining that Vermont's civil union law is sufficient.. "I believe that marriage, as our statute says, is the union of a man and a woman," Douglas said. But an impact study released this week suggests there is a link between the economy and gay marriage. The study, by the Williams Institute at UCLA, found that approval of gay marriage in Vermont could generate $31 million in new spending and $3.3 million in state taxes over three years. A leading lawmaker also disputes Douglas' stand. "We have 14 committees and 150 members in the House," said House Speaker Shap Smith one of the bill's sponsors. "We can do more than one thing at a time."