Minnesota House prepares to vote on gay marriage

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A gay Minnesota lawmaker leading the push to legalize same-sex weddings in the state told colleagues Thursday that gay couples "contribute to the same Minnesota system as everyone else" and deserve the right to be married.

The Minnesota House was expected to cast what was viewed as a pivotal vote that would position the state to become the 12th in the country to allow gay marriages and the first in the Midwest to pass such a law out of its Legislature.

Debate in the House got underway in the early afternoon, as thousands of supporters and opponents gathered outside the chamber. House Democratic leaders and the bill's supporters were confident it would pass. If it passes Monday in the Senate, Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton could sign it into law by early next week and pave the way for gay weddings as early as this summer.

"My family knew firsthand that same sex couples pay our taxes, we vote, we serve in the military, we take care of our kids and our elders and we run businesses in Minnesota," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Karen Clark, a Minneapolis Democrat who is gay. "... Same-sex couples should be treated fairly under the law, including the freedom to marry the person we love."

Opponents argued the bill would alter a centuries-old conception of marriage and leave those people opposed for religious reasons tarred as bigots.

"We're not. We're not," said Rep. Kelby Woodard, R-Belle Plaine. "These are people with deeply held beliefs, including myself."

The Minnesota push for gay marriage grew out of last fall's successful campaign to defeat a constitutional amendment that would have banned it. Minnesota became the first state to turn back such an amendment after more than two dozen states had passed one over more than a decade.

Eleven other states allow gay marriages — including Rhode Island and Delaware, which approved laws in the past week. Minnesota would be the first state in the Midwest to pass the measure out of the Legislature. Iowa allows gay marriages because of a 2009 court ruling.

Leaders in Illinois — the only Midwestern state other than Minnesota with a Democratic-led statehouse — say that state is close to having the votes to approve a law too. But most other states surrounding Minnesota have constitutional bans against same-sex weddings, so the change might not spread to the nation's heartland nearly as quickly as it has on the coasts and in New England.

Demonstrators chanting and waving signs choked the Capitol's marbled hallways leading up to the debate, and passion was evident on both sides as gay marriage supporters waved bright orange signs and opponents hoisted pink ones. The crowds prompted heighted security at the Capitol.

Among the demonstrators was Grace McBride, 27, a nurse from St. Paul. She said she and her partner felt compelled to be there to watch history unfold. She said she hopes to get married "as soon as I can" if the bill becomes law. The legislation would allow her to do so starting Aug. 1.

"I have thought about my wedding since I was a little girl," she said.

On the other side of the divide, the Rev. Steve Goold of New Hope Church led followers in a morning prayer before they set out to lobby lawmakers. He told them they had the power to change minds, but urged them to be respectful.

"Do not shout and boo. Pray," Goold said. Galina Komar, a recent Ukrainian immigrant who lives in Bloomington, brought her four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son to the Capitol to express her religious concerns.

"I do believe in God, and I believe God already created the perfect way to have a family," Komar said.

But gay marriage supporters also boasted faith leaders in their ranks.

"I've celebrated marriages for same-sex couples, but I've never been able to sign a marriage license for any of them," said the Rev. Jay Carlson, pastor at a Minneapolis Lutheran church. "I look forward to the day when I can."

In the debate's first hour, House members adopted a Republican-offered amendment to strengthen religious protections that backers hoped would draw a few GOP votes for the final bill. The House also rejected a Republican amendment to swap marriage for civil unions.

Democrats hold 73 of the 134 House seats, but at least two from more-conservative rural districts intended to oppose the bill. Some others have said they wouldn't discuss their vote prior to casting it.

Rep. Jason Isaacson, a Democrat from the St. Paul suburb of Shoreview, recalled how when he was a student, classmates were mocked with homophobic names.

"In middle school that was one of the worst things you could call somebody else," Isaacson said. "I like to think today that is changing."

Via Yahoo News!

Greece prepares to slash budget after confidence vote

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greece is set to press ahead with new taxes, public-sector job cuts and the sale of everything from airports to gaming licenses after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou narrowly survived a confidence vote early Wednesday.

Papandreou is planning to cut 150,000 government jobs, slash the salaries of those who keep their posts, and slap new taxes on property, yachts and swimming pools.

He's trying to win confidence from international lenders in order to get a second bailout package to keep the government from defaulting on debts.

But the austerity package is very unpopular. Weeks of protests forced Papandreou to shuffle his cabinet last week, leading to the confidence vote, which he won 155-143.

European markets were slightly down Wednesday morning, though it was not clear if that was in response to the Greek vote.

International lenders have demanded Greece cut spending, lay off public workers, increase taxes and raise 50 billion euros ($71 billion) through selling off state-owned enterprises in exchange for another bailout deal for the cash-strapped nation.

Analysts warn that a Greek default could cripple the euro, the European Union's common currency, and send shock waves throughout the world economy.

"If Greece were to default, I think the idea that you could contain that would be fanciful," former British finance minister Alistair Darling told CNN Wednesday.

"It's a bit like saying, 'Let's let Lehman's go bust again and wait and see what happens," he said, referring to the investment bank that collapsed in 2008, adding fuel to the global recession.

An acute crisis in Greece would lead to a chain effect that "probably wouldn't stop in Europe," he warned. "It would have a feedback to American banks and so on."

Greek lawmakers are slated to vote on the privatization plan and further tax increases, pension cuts and layoffs on June 30, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Greece risks being abandoned by both Europe and the International Monetary Fund if it fails to act.

"There is no alternative to this program. Let's face it," Barroso told CNN on Tuesday. "And that's why it has to be clear. We need Greece to deliver, and if Greece wants this program of support, Europe is ready to support it."

Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Tuesday he was encouraged by support he received from main opposition leader Antonis Samaras on the austerity plan, which Venizelos said he would take to Eurogroup ministers July 3.

Harsh reforms designed to help reduce Greece's enormous budget deficit have so far led to tax hikes and public-sector job losses alongside already record-high unemployment. Papandreou faces opposition from within his own ruling socialists over the austerity measures.

Airports, highways and state-owned companies as well as banks, real estate and gaming licenses will all go on the auction block.

On June 9, the Cabinet approved a tough five-year plan for 2011-15 and introduced a bill in Parliament to put austerity measures into effect. The government proposes reducing the public-sector workforce by 150,000; workers will also face changes in working hours, practices and wages, and the plan also sets out changes to social benefits, including pensions and unemployment aid.

Protests against those plans turned violent June 15 as demonstrators threw gasoline bombs at the Finance Ministry and police fired tear gas at protesters, police said. But Papandreou did not change course, telling lawmakers over the weekend, "The government must stop spending more than it takes in."

According to the Finance Ministry, these measures will help achieve 28.3 billion euros ($40.5 billion) in cuts from 2012 to 2015 and shrink Greece's public deficit to less than 3% of gross domestic product, in accordance with the EU target.

CNN's Diana Magnay and Richard Allen Greene and journalist Elinda Labropoulou contributed to this report.

CNN

Greece prepares to sell state assets

NEW: European Council president says a national consensus is neededAirports, highways, banks and more are for sale as Greece tries to raise billions of eurosEuro zone ministers say new loans are contingent on Greece raising money through privatizationTalks on a second bailout package follow three weeks of street protests and political upheaval

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greece is preparing to sell off billions of dollars worth of state assets including airports, highways and state-owned companies, as well as banks, real estate and gaming licenses, to meet international lenders' demands that it raise funds.

European finance ministers said Sunday that they were on track to give Greece a second huge bailout to keep the government afloat, but reiterated that Athens had to take tough measures to get it.

Greece has to raise 50 billion euros ($71 billion) through privatization by 2015, Eurogroup members said.

It also has to push through tough budget-cutting measures, they said, despite widespread protests in the country that forced a government reshuffle last week.

Prime Minister George Papandreou faces a vote of confidence in his new ministers this week as his party clings onto a wafer-thin majority in parliament.

Meanwhile, the country's economic crisis raises concerns for Europe's currency, the euro. A default on its debts by Greece, or other struggling nations such as Portugal or Ireland, could adversely affect the world economy.

European stocks fell in afternoon trading Monday as investors worried the Greek debt crisis could spread to other countries.

After meeting with Papandreou, European Council President Herman van Rompuy expressed his "strong support" for the Greek prime minister's economic reforms and said he had underlined the need for further efforts.

The package of reforms put forward by the government "needs to be supported by the Greek Parliament," he said in a statement, to pave the way for the release of fresh loans by mid-July.

"Given the length, magnitude and nature of required reforms in Greece, national consensus is a prerequisite for success," Van Rompuy said.

European finance ministers Sunday made an understated reference to the weeks of protests on the streets of Athens and the political upheaval that ensued.

"Ministers recognized the considerable progress achieved by the Greek authorities over the last year (and) are also conscious of the serious challenges that Greek citizens are facing in these difficult times," said members of the group, which consists of officials from countries in the Euro economic zone.

European ministers aim to keep Greece solvent -- and prevent its economic crisis from worsening and spreading through Europe and beyond.

The ministers' statement came a day after Papandreou called for lawmakers to back his latest round of budget-cutting measures, telling them, "The government must stop spending more than it takes in."

The harsh reforms designed to help reduce Greece's enormous budget deficit have so far led to tax hikes and public-sector job losses alongside already record-high unemployment.

There are fears that efforts to restructure Greece's debt could send shock waves through Europe's banking sector and spark investor panic similar to that in the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, the U.S.-based global investment bank.

Papandreou faces opposition from his party over the austerity measures needed to secure an additional bailout package.

The Greek government's popularity has plunged recently, and anti-government protests turned violent Wednesday, as demonstrators threw gasoline bombs at the Finance Ministry and police fired tear gas at protesters, police said.

On June 9, the Cabinet approved a tough five-year plan for 2011-15 and introduced a bill in Parliament to put austerity measures into effect.

The latest measures include further cuts in public spending and more tax increases.

The government proposes reducing the public-sector workforce by 150,000; workers will also face changes in working hours, practices and wages. The plan also sets out changes to social benefits, including pensions and unemployment aid.

According to the Finance Ministry, these measures will help achieve 28.3 billion euros ($40.5 billion) in cuts from 2012 to 2015, and shrink Greece's public deficit to less than 3% of gross domestic product, in accordance with the EU target.

The government has said the passage of these additional measures is essential to Greece's securing the fifth portion of the original 110 billion euro ($158 billion) bailout package that Greece signed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund last year to prevent the country from defaulting on its debts.

CNN's Diana Magnay and journalist Elinda Labropoulou contributed to this report.

CNN