I guess Virginia Republicans don't really trust the people.

I promise, until the final Senate vote on the anti-civil union Constitutional amendment, I won't post anymore about this bill.

This, however, needs to be noted.

HB101, which was approved by the house 76Y-20N, not only provides the amendment to the Constitution, but also the question to be asked at the polls next November when Virginians have the opportunity to vote the amendment into existance.

The question as it passed the house is:

"Question: Shall Article I (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to state, in part, that 'only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions' and to add provisions relating to the legal status of other relationships?"

Add provisions related to the legal status of other relationships?

What provisions? This ballot question gives the average Virginian no indication that the amendment actually prohibits civil unions as well as gay marriage.

Del. Sickles (D-43rd) attempted to remedy this situation. He offered an amendment to the bill that made no change in the amendment itself, but changed the ballot question to read:

"Question: Shall Article I (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to state, in part, that 'only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions' and to prohibit the creation or recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships or other legal status for unmarried relationships."

Obviously, the only goal of this amendment is to make the question posed to voters more clear. Instead of being intentionally ambiguous, it flat out states what the amendment will indeed do.

Del. Sickles amendment was voted down 37Y-57N. This means that seventeen proponents of the final bill thought it to be a good idea to actually inform Virginians what they were voting for, rather than trying to purposefully deceive them. Bravo to them.

Only one Republican voted for the amendment, he is Del. Thomas Rust (R-86). Delegate Rust trusts the people. He trusts the people and the regions of this Commonwealth to make their own decision after seeing what the Consititutional amendment actually affects. He trusts the people too much to present them with vague, ambiguous wording that doesn't indicate what they're actually voting for.

Hmmm...trusting the people. Sound familiar?

Why don't the rest of the House Republicans (as well as Independent Dels. Abbitt and Putney and Democrats Del. Bowling (sorry Neil, he REALLY blew it on this one) and Del. Johnson) trust the people of this Commonwealth to make their own decisions without being deceived?