Should legislators send the gay-marriage bill to voters?

It’s safe to say House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, and Rep. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, don’t agree on much.



But they did agree on one thing Tuesday at the gay marriage hearing.



Lawmakers should take an up or down vote on the bill and not send it out to voters, both of them said during the hearing. There’s been hallway chatter that some legislators might want to skip a legislative vote and put the bill on a ballot for Mainers to decide.



If it’s passed by lawmakers, it may end up there anyway via a people’s veto. But Pingree and Davis made it clear legislators need to have enough backbone to vote on the issue, one way or another.



Here’s what Pingree had to say:



“Lastly, we want to remind you that as the people’s representatives, it is our job to listen to all the evidence presented before us, discuss the issues thoughtfully, argue respectfully, and come to a decision.  It is our responsibility to take a stand.  We have signed onto this important legislation because we believe sending this issue out to referendum is an abdication of our responsibility as participants in representative government.  We should have the courage to vote our conscience on behalf of the people of Maine.”



And Davis made this statement: “I believe if you sent this out to a public vote, it’s a way for squeamish legislators to let themselves off the hook.”