http://epgn.com/...
In a bipartisan effort, the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee this week voted to table a bill that sought to ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution.
The lawmakers took the 8-6 vote Tuesday morning, and the motion to table Senate Bill 707 was proposed by Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.), the lead sponsor of the state’s marriage-equality bill.
This is the third defeat for such an attempt in the last four years. Credit in large part for the defeat of this pernicious legislation goes to State Senator, Daylin Leach one of the most progressive members of the PA. statehouse. For those of you who don't know Daylin, you may get a chance to at Netroots Nation this year. Daylin, a former stand-up comedian (whose rhetorical style precedes, but also resembles, Alan Grayson's) is participating in the Netroots Nation Auction. Hopefully we'll see him in Las Vegas, where he will give Joan Rivers and Rita Rudner a run for their money.
Daylin has also introduced a Bill in the State Senate to repeal Pennsylvania's Death penalty.
Here is a video of Daylin speaking after the Hate Amendment was tabled. This is what a Progressive looks like.
From Daylin's Blog:
Today was an amazing day. No, they didn't invent a new hair-growth product. Today we in the Judiciary Committee defeated an effort to enshrine bigotry in our State Constitution. We beat, by a margin of 8-6, SB 707 which would have constitutionally prohibited same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. Since my job in the minority generally consists of voting "no" on stuff that's going to pass anyway, it was a great feeling to win one.
There are many amazing things about today's vote. First, it happened in Pennsylvania. Too often on social issues we spend our time cursing out the wild-eyed liberals of Mississippi or complaining that the Burqas favored by the Taliban are too revealing. I don't mean to overstate it, but we have signs saying "Leaving Pennsylvania, Entering Gomorrah" near the borders on all of our interstates.
Progressives are extremely fortunate to have this type of talent--with a little humor besides--in the PA. Senate.