Here’s some good news that won’t surprise you. The group angling to land a same-sex marriage initiative on the November 2014 ballot has announced it’s got the signatures to do so—with seven months left until they’re due.
Oregon United for Marriage began the signature gathering effort a little more than four months ago, and this weekend reported it had reached the required number: 116,284.
The group isn’t stopping there. Organizers say they’ll shoot for tens of thousands of extra signatures— “enough to withstand anything our opposition can throw at us,” Field Director Ryan Brown said in a statement on Saturday.
Actually, Oregon United for Marriage has more than the required amount already, more than 118,000 according to another announcement today.
Signatures aren’t due until July 3, and a vote on the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative would occur on November 4.
Can anyone explain why there aren’t the votes at this point to simply handle this legislatively?
We’re way overdue for marriage equality in this state (and everywhere else), but I hate the way the initiative process infantilizes the legislature.
Politicians don’t have to take tough votes or sell policies to their constituents, and we all bear the consequences if a stupidly-worded initiative becomes law.
It seems like a bunch of other states have passed laws since this initiative began. It’s a little embarrassing.
@Commenty Colin: The Oregon legislature does not have the authority to amend our constitution; it can only be done through a vote of the people.
That’s good to know. I’m not a native Oregonian