Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 23:07:54 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: FLASH--HAWAI`I SENATE RESOLVE COLLAPSES

Aloha ahi ahi kakou.

It appears that we've suffered a major defeat tonight.

Several of the national TV affiliates in Honolulu reported the following at
about 10:35pm HST:

1)  An agreement has been reached on the language of the Constitutional
Amendment that *will* appear on the ballot in November 1998:  "The
Legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposit-sex couples."

2)  Medical benefits for reciprocal beneficiaries will take effect on July
1, 1997, but only for state government employees.  Workers for the various
counties and the federal government workers do not have the same rights
extended to them, nor does the private sector need to comply.  The medical
benefits will also be up for review in two years.

3)  State tax benefits for reciprocal beneficiaries will not be extended.

I'm going to bed now.  I think I've lost my respect for representative
government.  We don't have a chance if we don't represent ourselves.

A hui hou,

Martin



  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "One should never watch two things while they 
  are being made:  sausage and the law."
                                      --Unknown
                       ~~~~~
                  Fred and Martin
                     24 years,
               yet strangers before
                      the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~