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Representative Matt Shea has issued a statement on the House action approving SB 6239. Please read it.
Yesterday I wrote about I-1192, an Initiative that has been filed by attorney Steve Pidgeon, which will amend the wording of DOMA and essentially stop the state from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
The other means we have to overturn SB 6239 is the Referendum. A Referendum cannot be filed until SB 6239 becomes law. Governor Gregoire has said she will sign it into law. As of last night she plans to sign it Monday morning at 11:30 a.m.
Following her signature, a referendum can be filed.
Secretary of State Sam Reed was on the radio earlier this week talking about the fact that there could be both a Referendum and an Initiative on the ballot this November. That is likely.
Secretary Reed's office published the following information as to how the Referendum process works and the timeline.
In his own words:
Washington’s gay-marriage legislation, Senate Bill 6239, easily cleared the House 55 to 43 Wednesday after 2 1/2 hours of emotional debate. It now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature, probably in a big ceremony next week.
And challengers already are making plans for a ballot challenge.
How would that work? What’s the timeline? What does the filing of a referendum mean to people who were thinking about a summertime wedding?
Here is a look at how a referendum would work:
Q. When would the legislation ordinarily take effect?
A. 90 days after adjournment of the regular session, or June 7 this year.
Q. When can a referendum be filed?
A. After Gov. Chris Gregoire has taken action on the bill. She has five working days to act, once the bill is actually delivered to her desk. She has said she will sign the bill, although it is possible she could veto sections or amendments that were attached. The referendum must include the text of the bill as passed by the Legislature and acted upon by the governor.
Q. How long does it take for a referendum to be processed and ready for signature-gathering?
A. Roughly three weeks. The measure is sent to the Attorney General’s Office for preparation of a ballot title, concise description and ballot summary. The AG has five working days to complete this. Within five working days, anyone dissatisfied with the ballot title or summary may petition the Thurston County Superior Court for changes. The court is required to “expeditiously review” the request(s) and render a decision within five days. The decision of the court is final. After that, sponsors can print petitions and begin collecting signatures.
Q. What is the deadline for turning in signatures?
A. June 6.
Q. How many signatures are required?
A. The bare minimum is 120,577, or 4 percent of all votes cast in the 2008 election for governor. The state Elections Division suggests turning in 150,000 or more, to cover invalid and duplicate signatures. The average error rate is 18 percent.
Q. How long does the signature check take?
A. If sponsors submit a large enough pad, a random sample can be completed in about two weeks; a full every-signature check can take a month. Crews will be checking to make sure the signer is a properly registered Washington voter, that the signature matches the one on file, and that the person didn’t sign more than once. Both sides are welcome to have a small number of observers whenever the signature-verification is underway.
Q. What happens to the gay-marriage law in the meantime?
A. The filing of the signatures suspends the effective date. If the signature-verification process shows an insufficient number of signatures, then the law goes into effect right away. If the referendum is qualified for the ballot, then the law remains on hold until the voters make their decision in November and the General Election results are certified on Dec. 6.
Q. Is there a “window” in which same-sex couples can marry, between the bill being approved by the Legislature and governor and a vote in November?
A. No.
Q. What is the question posed to voters by the referendum?
A. The referendum places the text of the bill before them. An affirmative vote is to uphold the law as it passed the Legislature and was signed by the governor. A vote to reject wipes out the measure and it does not take effect. As with the 2009 vote on Referendum 71, the “everything but marriage” law, the sponsors who mount the effort to get the measure on the ballot will be asking for a “reject” vote on their referendum. Bottom line: a vote to “approve” upholds the new law, a vote to “reject” abolishes the bill.
Q. Does the referendum require a simple majority or a supermajority?
A. A referendum takes a simple majority to pass.
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Much hangs in the balance over the next few months. This is a time for people of faith to work together. Every attempt will be made to "divide and conquer" those of us who stand for marriage.
Generations of people will be impacted---for good or for evil, by how the people respond to the sanctity of marriage over the next few months.
Thank you for standing with us with your financial support and your actions.
If you are willing to circulate petitions in your community and church, please fill out a form on our website with your name, address, email address and a phone number where I can contact you. This information will be held confidential to me and my office.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.