“I'm not planning on having a hearing,” Pelath said.

Too often in political speech, the "I'm not planning" statement ends up being "I've decided to anyway" later on. I hope it sticks this time.

Thanks for the information.

I don't know if believing the issue is dead is a real smart move yet! Politicians love to say one thing and seem to always do another. I won't believe it is dead this session till the session is long over.

Hershmann; I was told, was "falling over himself to get the issue on the docket again this year". He is so determined to add discrimination to the state constitution it seems at any cost. I don't think a little thing like taxes will keep him off the soap box.

I am not sure that saying the issue is dead is a complete reality. This is rather, IMO, cause for cautious optimism... as tides can turn. As we are riding the crest, we must still be vigilant. Let's keep pressure on the Senate and House committee members with letters and phone calls. Let's bury this dead horse!

As long as there is a chance, I believe we need to be prepared. How many issues in the past have we played catch up on because we didn't have a proven plan in place? If the possibility is there, proactive is better that reactive. I'm with Phil..."til the session is long over".

I certainly hope, Bil, that you are correct --- however, I agree with those who have posted notes of caution --- apparently we can afford to be optimistic, but let's also be vigilant. I don't want the RR to pull a fast one on us at the last minute, and suddenly we find ourselves facing a November referendum.

Bil,

I agree with you that it is dead and that our blogging community deserves most of the credit for it. The businesses who jumped on board in opposing it last year were influenced by some of their key employees and lobbyists who were reading what the blogs were writing about SJR-7 and came convinced it had to be killed. Lobbyists on both sides of SJR-7 have been fanning the issue this year in hopes of justifying payment for their services for another year. It has been quite clear Pat Bauer and the House Democrats had no intention of letting this issue appear on the ballot this November since last session. As for the Senate's superfluous hearing this week, I would urge the GLBT community to boycott it to make the point that lawmakers are simply wasting their time discussing it because Eric Miller has to show his contributors he's doing something for all the money they send him. Don't give them the satisfaction by showing up to testify on it.

Don,

I wouldn't expect IE to listen to anything I have to say anyway. Is all I have to do is suggest something, and they will urge the complete opposite. The GLBT community at large, however, would agree overwhelmingly with my recommendation on how to approach this hearing. And my recommendation is the smarter move and would play the best in the media. And damn it, Don, for one last time, SJR-7 is dead and everyone in IE's leadership has known this from the start of the session. I will not allow members of our GLBT community to be deceived by persons with their own self-serving agenda. It is a fundraising ploy and nothing more. I won't be fooled into contributing a dime and I hope others aren't as well.

Homosexuality is perverse and icky. Perverts have made this world slouch to moral decay. Your bunghole is going to rot out with worms you disgusting git.