The majority of our State Senate is in favor of passing a civil-unions bill, but there are a few roadblocks being thrown up right now in our government. First of all, the democratic senators who are advocating the bill want to pass it through without risking the possibility of a veto. Currently, the bill has written that it would take effect on January 1st, 2010, which is about three weeks ago at this point. Though it seems like a ridiculous flaw that no one should bother about (like the No-Dancing law in Mass.) it could be a potential excuse for a veto. Governor Lingle is using distraction tactics and trying to underline the current economic problems we are having, and ignore the issue of gay rights in the meantime. As for the Senate members themselves, they do not want to try to push the bill through unless they really believe that they are going to succeed. After all, the same thing happened last year, and trying to push legislation through a government reluctant to change can not be a fun task. This bill would give civil union partners the same rights as same-sex married couples under state law, but could do nothing about federal law. By: Sierra Brown. Sourced From a Honolulu Advertiser Article by Derrick DePledge