Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 15:40:27 -1000 From: Mia H H Lam Subject: LOCAL NEWS APRIL 9 (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 15:16:21 -1000 From: Tom Ramsey To: ramsey-list@math.hawaii.edu Subject: LOCAL NEWS APRIL 9 HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO MEET 9 PM TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) Tracey Bennett has phoned me to alert you that the House-Senate Conference Committee will meet tonight, in Room 325 of the Capitol. Come to the Capitol if you can, to witness history being made (or unmade?). The good news is that they are struggling to deal with gays and lesbians, the bad news is that they are struggling .... Best, Tom Ramsey SENATE OFFERS THE HOUSE ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT APRIL 8, 1997 Four Senate conferees offered the House a constitutional amendment that states that the Legislature shall have the power to regulate marriage licenses (exact wording will be supplied later). This is their latest draft of HB 117 (I have refrained from broadcasting numerous intermediate drafts that last at best a few days). In conjunction with HB 117, the Senate insisted on a slightly changed Senate version of HB 118, the reciprocal beneficiaries bill. Among the changes is this: HB 118 will take effect immediately upon approval by the legislature and the governor (the earlier drafts were conditioned upon approval by the voters of HB 117 in the November 1998 election; the Attorney General has advised the Senate that such conditional approval is unconstitutional). The Constitutional Amendment bill, HB 117, is practically what the House demands. HB 118 is far from the House's position, which is much narrower in the list of benefits which the House would grant "reciprocal beneficiaries". Will the House accept this package? Please stay tuned. The conferees adjourned without setting another meeting time, subject to being recalled by the chairs. Tom Ramsey President, friends of h.e.r.m.p P.S. The ACLU of Hawaii, Marriage Project-Hawaii, and Friends of h.e.r.m.p have been reaching out to the public with print, radio and TV advertising. This is expensive, high profile work! If you wish to help them wage this battle effectively, please contribute to Marriage Project-Hawaii PO Box 11690 Honolulu, HI 96828 (tax-deductible; formerly h.e.r.m.p) Friends of h.e.r.m.p PO Box 11690 Honolulu, HI 96828 (non-tax-deductible) Friends of h.e.r.m.p has a 900 number, 1-900-97-MARRY, for donations by telephone (age 18+).