Vt. Gov. Douglas Does Not See Any Ecnomic Benefit To Marriage Equality

09/17/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
While people are considering lining up to take his job, Governor Jim Douglas went to Washington and answered a question which is hotly disputed by several academes. The Blade asked Governor Douglas whether or not he believed that the state of Vermont would see any benefit from the passage of the same-sex marriage law which went into effect on 1 September. His answer in the short form was ‘no.’ He does not believe that there will be any economic benefit to the state in terms of increased tax revenue or jobs.

While Gov. Douglas’ opinion may be shaped by the slow start to the now open season for marriage in Vermont, it is hard to state emphatically that there will be no long term economic value to having made marriage legal for all Vermont citizens. The likelihood is that Governor Douglas dismisses the economic value of marriage equality largely to justify his belief that granting same-sex couples marriage rights is contrary to his social beliefs.

In point of fact, Governor Douglas’ opinion runs contrary to the research done by the Williams Institute, which is attached to the school of law at UCLA. According to their March report, the state could easily reap $3.3 million in revenue and seven hundred new jobs from the legalization of same-sex marriage in Vermont. The caveat to the research is that it would be over three years.

Vermont has had a slow start to the marriage run. Part of that is because autumn is hardly the best time to get married in Vermont. The temperatures are cooling, the nights are getting longer, and the foliage has yet to even begin to turn. A number of gays and lesbians did, however, get married, but statistics regarding the number will not be available for some time. The probability is that a larger number of gays and lesbians are either going to wait for spring to arrive or they are going to wait for a special occasion such as the anniversary of their civil union.

Part of why there has not been a run on the licenses simply has to do with the fact that there is no feeling of urgency in this state. It is unlikely that anyone is going to take this away any time soon. When civil unions passed, there was urgency because there was no telling how the next legislature would deal with civil unions.

Vermont will not reap the full benefit of marriage equality until the day that the Defense of Marriage Act is revoked. Until that point, many couples may be reluctant to come to Vermont to get a license which is not valid in their home state.

Governor Douglas is not running for reelection or any office in 2010. He decided to not seek a fifth term, leaving Governor Chittenden as the longest serving Governor of Vermont History, and Governor Howard Dean as the runner up.

Speculation surrounds Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie and whether or not he will seek the Governorship. Should he choose to run for Governor, Dubie would be taking a pay cut as he is currently an airline pilot. Thomas M. Salmon, the son of former Governor Thomas P. Salmon is also considering a run for the Governorship. The current State Auditor changed parties from Democrat to Republican on 8 September. On the Democratic side, State Senator Doug Racine and Vt. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz are both running.