The Note

 

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Complete with a description of major measures being addressed this week, Lewis and Rodriguez continue, "Any of the measures, if advanced this week and again in the 2005-06 legislative session, would give voters a chance to decide the future of gay marriage in Massachusetts on the November 2006 ballot. On the other hand, if supporters of the Supreme Judicial Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage can gather enough sympathizers, they stand an excellent chance of blocking any amendment put forth."

On Sunday, Mary Leonard of the Boston Globe reported on Republican leaders in Washington who have run into resistance toward the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage from an unlikely source — fellow Republicans within their own party — who withheld support from the legislation following claims from some that Congress should wait until federal courts or state legislatures grapple with the issue, while others cited discrimination against gays and lesbians as the a reason not to push the amendment through Congress. LINK

And USA Today's Bayles Notes "Even if it passes, the amendment couldn't be ratified by voters until November 2006, extending the controversy for the next 2 1/2 years." LINK

Democratic National Convention:

Paul G. Kirk Jr., chairman emeritus of the Boston 2004 Host Committee, calls on Boston residents to put their arguing aside and focus on the positive side of the Democratic convention in a Boston Globe op/ed today. LINK

"The oldest political party in the world has selected the capital city of Massachusetts, where the first seeds of democracy were sown, to host the first national political convention in its history. As it has turned out, the convention will nominate a favorite son of our own commonwealth for president. The stage is set for a united, national, partisan celebration to take place within the Fleet Center. Not a bad political story!"

Republican National Convention:

Steve Miller of the Washington Times reports on the thousands of protestors who are already gearing up for this summer's Republican National Convention in New York, promoting their anti-establishment events through various Web sites and word of mouth. LINK

ABC News Vote 2004: the Senate:

Mark Preston of Roll Call reports that Republican leadership in the Senate "is urging their colleagues to invoke their Senatorial privilege of using the floor to speak in favor of President Bush's legislative agenda and question the policy proposals of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry." Some nameless Republicans tell Preston that GOP leaders are concerned that the Democrats use the floor more effectively in order to advance their agenda.

Jill Zuckman of the Chicago Tribune Notes that Democrats' chances in the Senate are looking up. With a combination of vulnerable incumbents, bruising GOP primaries, and unexpected retirements, the Democrats may have a small chance of taking back the Senate, in an election where they were widely predicted to lose ground. LINK

No Child Left Behind:

Elizabeth Shogren of the Los Angeles Times takes a look at No Child Left Behind pitchman-in-chief, Education Secretary Rod Paige and his selling of the controversial law. LINK

"Conservatives attack it as a big-government approach to education reform. Liberals scream about what they call inadequate federal funds to meet the law's requirements. Legislatures are considering opting out of the law or refusing to comply with any requirements not paid for by Washington."

"And Paige, who has traveled to 46 states since taking office, primarily to promote No Child Left Behind, is finding it harder than ever to make his case."

George Archibald of the Washington Times reports on over 80 Hispanic and black school superintendents across the nation who are battling a group of 14 chief state school officers who want Congress to reduce the requirements of No Child Left Behind by lessening math and reading requirements to the detriment of disadvantaged minority students. LINK