Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson has a suggestion to help Gov. Perdue and the state through the recession: gay marriage.
On his blog Leading from the Left, Nelson, the former mayor of Carrboro, says a study out of the UCLA School of Law shows gay marriage has pumped big bucks into Massachessetts coffers.
“A new study reports that Marriage Equality has pumped over $100M into the Massachussetts economy since that state equalized marriage rights in 2004," Nelson writes. "Governor Perdue, you've got a big budget gap to fill. How 'bout it .... ?"
The report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law says a typical same-sex couple spent about $7,400 on their wedding, with one in 10 couples spending over $20,000, according to WCVB TV in Boston.
M.V. Lee Badgett, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts and a study co-author, says allowing gay couples to marry has helped businesses in tough economic times, the station reported.
Comments
However, if you're federal
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 14:18 — robdarichHowever, if your federal business designation includes favored status, you may find it easier to maintain these benefits. For example: an owner of an 8A company can marry another 8A-qualified person - transfer 51% ownership and avoid the 9-year 8A expiration. A serial 8A could maintain their status indefinately. If you don't think being an 8A is worth it, you don't know 8A. So while serial 8As can exist on a heterosexual basis, allowing same-sex marriage increases the candidate list of potential business owners suitable to maintain 8A status.
Glad I do not live in Orange
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 11:05 — jesmyopinionGlad I do not live in Orange County - too many flakes for my cereal...
in NC - haha...
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 10:34 — najhrilThe most important thing to remember is the fact that 'a person's sexual orientation, like thier gender, race, ethnicity or religion, shall have no bearing on thier ability to recieve the rights all other citizens possess'.