MA to delay 2005 gay marriage vote.

Bush renominates embattled judges.

Notable item(s) this week:

Bush renominates embattled judges
President Bush has renominated 12 of his selections for the federal appellate courts, including several jurists considered hostile to the goals of the LGBT rights movement. The move is based on the hope that slightly better GOP numbers in the Senate, combined with a post-election spirit of accommodation, might let a few of these previously rejected nominees squeak through the confirmation process. Seven were the victims of Democrat filibusters in the past, while the other five were stalled by the minority party. The most objectionable name on the list, argue some LGBT leaders, is William Pryor, the former attorney general of Alabama who profited from a stealth appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit when Congress was on break last year. Pryor must now be confirmed by the same Senate that filibustered his nomination prior to the recess appointment one year ago. FULL STORY	HRC Urges  Senate Not to Confirm Anti-Fairness Judicial  Nominee  William  Pryor
Senate boss plans to delay marriage vote
Fearing the contentious issue might become a distraction, Senate President Robert E. Travaglini plans to delay a vote on gay marriage until as late as the fall to allow the Legislature time to focus on a busy agenda that includes health care, the budget, and job creation, senior legislative sources said yesterday. Travaglini's decision has not been made public, but those familiar with his thinking say the Senate leader wants to give the newly reorganized House leadership time to focus on the budget and other measures before he calls a constitutional convention on the proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriages and allow same-sex civil unions. FULL STORY	''We (the GLBT community)  still don't  have the  votes and we are still far  from having  the votes that we need." - Arline   Isaacson   Cochairwoman,   MA Gay    and Lesbian    Political Caucus.

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In a few months, a state Constitutional Convention will again vote on an Amendment to strip away equal marriage rights. This is our last chance to stop it in the Legislature and keep it off the ballot. If the vote were held today, we would lose!