Gov. Linda Lingle on Monday bought herself two more weeks to make a decision on contentious legislation that would allow same-gender couples to form civil unions.
At a press conference at the state Capitol, Lingle announced the bill is one of 39 measures on a list of potential vetoes she was required to unveil by Monday.
She stressed that its appearance on the list doesn’t necessarily mean it will be vetoed - although she said historically, that’s what happens to most bills on the list.
The Republican governor said she is "still considering everyone’s point of view" on the civil unions issue, which she called the most difficult of the measures still before her.
"What makes it the most difficult is the intensity of the feeling on the part of the public. I don’t know of another bill that comes close to that," she said.
"I can tell you that throughout this process, I’ve gone back and forth" on whether to sign the bill, she added.
Lingle now has until July 6, when by law she must sign or veto the 39 measures, or allow them to become law without her signature. She said she will take until then to decide the fate of the civil unions legislation.
The bill would allow same- and opposite-gender couples to form civil unions, with almost all the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
Lingle’s office has been deluged with almost 20,000 letters, faxes, e-mails and phone calls - the majority opposed to HB 444, according to the governor’s staff.
Those opinions will be an important consideration, Lingle said. The governor didn’t elaborate on why she needs two more weeks, but previously said she wants as much time as possible to weigh the bill and figure out how to communicate her decision to the public. The bill has been on her desk since May 3.
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