July 21, 2005

Minnis wrong to quash SB 1000

Karen Minnis, Speaker of the Oregon House, is using the power of her office to subvert the Oregon Constitution. She is personally preventing a vote on Senate Bill 1000 (civil unions for same-same couples), even though the majority of Oregonians, including the Republicans in the House, support civil unions.

Her dishonesty in her expressed reasons would be laughable, if it were not so serious. She is saying that Measure 36, the ban on marriage equality, also was a vote against civil unions.

Here's what Tim Nashif, head of the Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign, told the Bend Bulletin on Aug. 20, 2004: "Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions." Throughout the campaign last year, M36 supporters had the same message: Ban gay marriage because they can always seek civil unions (see www.trackthelies.com for a full listing of these citations).

Oregonians believe in fairness. We believe in the right to vote. We refuse to let our political and social choices be made for us by any person or group that thinks it's not only more powerful but morally superior.

Karen Minnis does not seem to understand this. By blocking a fair vote on SB 1000, she is pandering to a small minority of religious bigots in the mistaken belief they will get her elected governor next year.

Phone Speaker Minnis' office and tell her to let our elected representatives vote on SB 1000. She is not the Lord High Chancellor; she's just one vote, like the rest of us.

Todd Barnhart

July 25, 2005

Minnis right to quash 'fad' bill

Todd Barnhart's July 22 letter attacked Karen Minnis, Oregon's House Speaker, for "using the power of her office to subvert the Oregon Constitution" and "personally preventing a vote on Senate Bill 1000