Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:19:56 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: FLASH--HAWAI`I LEGISLATURE PASSES HB 117 & 118

Aloha auwinala kakou.

The following is compiled from various news sources including a report from
Bill Woods and broadcasts from the NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates in Honolulu
at 6pm HST.



Last week the Hawai`i Senate passed HB 118 HD1, SD1, CD1 which delinates
about 52 of the 350+ benefits bestowed upon heterosexuals to couples that
are otherwise unable to marry, including same-gender couples.  A complete
list will be forthcoming.

The House passed the same measure today, as anticipated.  The vote was 41
yes and 10 against.  This bill is now en route to the Governor for his
signature.  If it is signed into law, benefits for Hawai`i residents begin
July 1, 1997, and are up for review in two years.

HB 117 SD1, CD1, the constitutional amendment that needs to be approved by
the voters of Hawai`i allowing the legislature to define the participants in
marriage, was then voted upon by the Senate.  Bill Woods reported that the
vote was 24 to 0 with one absentee, two the TV broadcast affiliates reported
that the vote was unanimous.  The third did not delineate the vote in their
broadcast.

The House then voted upon HB 117 SD1, CD1 and passed it by a vote of 45 to 6.

There is no joy in mudville . . . .


~~pau~~

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
       "Behold, this was the inequity of thy sister Sodom:
  pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was
  in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the
  hand of the poor and needy."
                                           --Ezekiel 16:48
                           ~~~~~
                      Fred and Martin
                         24 years,
                   yet strangers before
                          the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~