No, seriously, he did (Raleigh N&O)
House Speaker Joe Hackney said today that he will use the power of his office to kill the proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage.
"I said at the beginning of the session that we will control the agenda, and that’s what we will do," the Orange County Democrat said.
Hackney said he will send the bill to a committee, where it probably will die this session. The bill, which would bring to a public vote a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman, must pass either the House or Senate this week to stay alive for the legislative session.
Hackney’s move would essentially overrule a House committee vote to send the proposal to a vote of the full House.
Now, there is quite a bit more maneuvering still going on with said Bill, but, suffice it to say, what we have here is one man, one Democrat (shocker!) playing games, using his power to keep the People of North Carolina from voting themselves.
Now, personally, I am not a big proponent of any sort of marriage amendment, it seems to run counter to the American Conservative model of freedom, as well as American ideals of freedom alltogether. But, first, this a State issue, as described by the 10th Amendment. Second, why not let the people vote? Democrats are always pushing for direct democracy, yet, they will beat it down when they do not like it. Much like "count every vote!!!! (except those pesky military ones.)"
