Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 21:29:50 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: Early reports on the Joint Conference Committee

Aloha ahi ahi kakou.

Tonight's editions (4/9) of newscasts on Honolulu's four major affiliates
did not mention the 9pm meeting scheduled for the Joint Conference Committee
on their 5pm or 6pm broadcasts.

First word of the conference came on an unusal splice on an independent's
newcast at 9pm (specifically 9:12pm) on KFVE, which has an arrangement for
verbatim feed from the NBC affiliate.  The newscaster noted that the
committee "had just convened a few moments ago to iron out details of a
constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage."

All four affiliates have a 10pm newsbroadcast, and I will glean what I can
from surfing.  In the meantime, I hope that someone from Honolulu will call
me with details.


At 9:45 received a phone call from Bill Woods with the counterproposals from
the House, that were apparently received without comment by the Senate
conferees.

Their latest version of the proposed Constitutional Amendment reads:  "The
Legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples."

Further, Lead House Conferee, Terrance Tom, made it specifically clear that
the House has no intention of discussion on the so-called "Reciprocal
Beneficiaries" bill as the deadline for that legislation is later this month.

By taking the action that the House did, it was made perfectly clear that
the House has chosen to ignore the Senate's concerns for fairness and
equality.  The House's new version of the proposed amendment also make it
clear that there is no avenue of redress for any future concerns of
nontraditional couples.


Was only able to catch the FOX and ABC 10pm broadcasts.  The FOX broadcast
was live from the Capitol, and concluded with a live interview with Terrance
Tom.  Tom continues to espouse his theme of traditional marriage.  He
insists that his course is the correct course.

The ABC broadcast noted briefly that the Senate and the House were "on the
same wave length."

A hui hou,

Martin

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "Of all of the tyrannys that affect mankind, tyranny
  of religion is the worst."
                                        --Thomas Payne
                          ~~~~~
                     Fred and Martin
                        24 years,
                  yet strangers before
                         the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~