a public defender

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The Finance Committee today approved the Civil Unions bill [text] and it has now moved over to the Senate for debate and a vote. S. B. 963 could be scheduled for debate on the floor as early as next week.

The bill itself seems pretty straightforward and given the overwhelming support for it in the various committees, it seems that there is a strong chance that this bill will be enacted into law. If this does happen, Connecticut would be the second state in the country authorizing civil unions.

The one thing to keep any eye out for is Gov. Rell’s position on this bill.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell has endorsed the concept of civil unions, though she said last week she would like the bill amended to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Rell has not said failure to adopt such an amendment would provoke a veto.

Realistically, I don’t think she will insist too much on having that provision as part of the bill. Not only is there a large amount of support for this bill, but there is also some support for a same-sex marriage bill.