From The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/01/10/rhode-island-governor-says-he-wont-put-marriage-referendum
Legislators are elected to make such decisions, says Gov. Lincoln Chafee.
BY Lucas Grindley
January 10 2013
Hopes by some to put marriage equality up to a vote by Rhode Island’s citizens instead of its lawmakers got a big setback today.
Democratic state senator Frank Ciccone had suggested introducing a bill that would put marriage equality up to a statewide vote. But Gov. Lincoln Chafee said Thursday, according to the Providence Journal, that he would veto such a bill.
The Providence Journal reports, “Chafee, a same-sex marriage supporter, said he believes lawmakers are elected to make such decisions and should be allowed to decide the issue of same-sex marriage.”
All remaining signs point to Rhode Island being among the next states to legalize same-sex marriage. One the main obstacles to passage had been Senate president M. Teresa Paiva Weed, who now supports holding a vote on the bill. And House speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, also plans to hold a vote.
Continue reading at: http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/01/10/rhode-island-governor-says-he-wont-put-marriage-referendum
