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04/22/2009
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from the Kennebec Journal
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All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
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All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Portland Press Herald
Opinions are almost evenly split when it comes to a bill before Maine lawmakers to allow same-sex marriage, according to new public polling data.
A full-day public hearing on the measure is set for today and is expected to draw hundreds to the Augusta Civic Center. Proponents say they are seeking to end discrimination against gays, while opponents say the bill is an assault on traditional marriage.
Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland released the results of its poll Tuesday. The firm asked 400 Maine residents two questions related to gay marriage between April 6 and 14. The first was, "The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that would seek to change the Maine statutes that govern civil marriage rights to allow marriage licenses to be issued to any two persons regardless of the sex of such persons. Do you support or oppose this proposed bill?"
According to Pan Atlantic, 49.5 percent said they oppose the bill, 47.3 percent said they support it and 3.3 percent said they don't know.
"If they're faced with a choice straight-up, people are split pretty much down the middle," said Patrick Murphy, president of Pan Atlantic.
Murphy also said that on questions about public-policy issues, there is normally a higher percentage in the "don't know" category -- usually between 8 percent and 10 percent. That was obviously not the case on this question.
"Most people had a position," said Murphy. "Maybe it's because there's been a lot of media coverage on the issue."
The poll found some geographic disparities, with 55.9 percent of northern Maine and Down East respondents saying they oppose the bill. Only 41.5 percent of southern Maine residents said they are opposed.
Republicans were more likely to be opposed, at 71.6 percent, than those who identified themselves as Democrats (38.8 percent opposed) or independents (44.2 percent opposed.)
Also, men were more likely to say they oppose the bill, with 55.1 percent answering that way. Among women, 44.1 percent said they aren't in favor of the bill.
Pan Atlantic conducted the poll independently, without support from groups on either side of the issue, according to Murphy. The poll had a margin of error of 4.9 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. That means that if the poll were to be repeated, the results would be within 4.9 percentage points of the present findings in 95 of 100 cases.
The gay-marriage questions were part of Pan Atlantic's Omnibus poll, which contained questions on many topics and will be released next week.
A second question asked, "Which of the following comes closest to your position on the issue of marriage for gay and lesbian couples and civil unions?" The poll shows that 39.3 percent support "full marriage rights"; 34.5 percent support civil unions or partnerships, but not marriage; and 23 percent oppose "any legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples."
More than 3 percent said they don't know.
Pan Atlantic also provided some historical data on that question. In March 2004, respondents came in at 30.3 percent for full rights; 35.5 percent for civil unions; and 31.8 percent opposed to "any legal recognition."
There is some suggestion in the Statehouse that lawmakers might want to send the question directly to voters in a November referendum.
After today's hearing before the Judiciary Committee, lawmakers will work on the bill, and bring a recommendation to the full Legislature.
If the bill is supported, it's unknown whether Gov. John Baldacci would sign it into law. An opponent of gay marriage in the past, Baldacci has said he is keeping an open mind.
And if the bill passes and becomes law, opponents have said they will file a people's veto, putting the issue before voters this November.
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