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| | '''Vermont''' is located in the [[New England]] region of the Northeastern part of the [[United States]] and on March 4, 1791, became the fourteenth state to enter into the Union. Its name comes from the French term for 'Green Mountain.' The capital of Vermont is [[Montpelier]] and its largest city is Burlington. The current governor of Vermont is Jim Douglas, a [[Republican]]. | | '''Vermont''' is located in the [[New England]] region of the Northeastern part of the [[United States]] and on March 4, 1791, became the fourteenth state to enter into the Union. Its name comes from the French term for 'Green Mountain.' The capital of Vermont is [[Montpelier]] and its largest city is Burlington. The current governor of Vermont is Jim Douglas, a [[Republican]]. |
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| − | Since 2000, Vermont has offered [[civil union]]s, similar to [[same sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>
| + | In 2000 Vermont started offering [[civil union]]s, similar to [[same sex marriage]]. On April 7, 2009, legislators overrode the governor's veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Vermont.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/recognition-of-gay-unions-in-vermont]</ref> |
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| − | On April 7, 2009 activist legislators legislated from the legislature to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont.
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| | ==Politics== | | ==Politics== |
| | Republican governor Jim Douglas announced on August 27, 2009, that he will not run for re-election in 2010, boosting the prospect of a Democratic takeover in the liberal-leaning state. | | Republican governor Jim Douglas announced on August 27, 2009, that he will not run for re-election in 2010, boosting the prospect of a Democratic takeover in the liberal-leaning state. |
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| − | The 58-year-old Douglas noted he has devoted well more than half his life to a public service career that has also included tenures as a member of the state legislature, secretary of state and state treasurer. His only electoral defeat came in a 1992 Senate challenge to Democratic Patrick J. Leahy . | + | The 58-year-old Douglas noted he has devoted well over half his life to a public service career that has also included tenures as a member of the state legislature, secretary of state and state treasurer. His only electoral defeat came in a 1992 Senate challenge to Democratic Patrick J. Leahy . |
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| | Three high-profile Democrats already are in the race: Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz; state Sen. Susan Bartlett; and state Sen. Doug Racine, a former lieutenant governor who lost to Douglas in a tight three-way 2002 race to succeed Democrat [[Howard Dean]]. | | Three high-profile Democrats already are in the race: Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz; state Sen. Susan Bartlett; and state Sen. Doug Racine, a former lieutenant governor who lost to Douglas in a tight three-way 2002 race to succeed Democrat [[Howard Dean]]. |