Justice of the Peace
Newsletter
April 2009
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In This
Issue:
Same-Sex Marriage: |
Two bills that would change health care in Connecticut are currently wending their way through the legislative process. The first of these, the CT Healthcare Partnership (#65
82) would open the
health
insurance options now available to state employees to small businesses, not-for-profits and municipal
employees. The second bill (#6600), labeled SustiNet,
would provide health insurance for everyone in the State.On April 1, I attended a briefing chaired by Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz on the first bill. This is similar to one that was passed last year but vetoed by Gov. Rell who cited its likely cost at a time of fiscal uncertainty. Supporters of the bill said Rell was unduly influenced by the insurance industry and the unions representing state employees. In its current configuration, the new bill seeks to overcome the financial hurdle by eliminating the insurance companies (and their administrative, managerial, and profit costs) by making the program “self-insured” (the State would become the insurer)
The SustiNet bill, also known as HealthCare 4Every1, would require everyone in the State to obtain health insurance with a provider of their choice. Those who could not do so on their own would be subsidized. The inclusion of many healthy people in the pool would presumably lower costs, but a similar Massachusetts plan now in effect has seen cost overruns. This could have a pronounced negative effect on the program in CT.
Should the Partnership plan go through, the Justice of the Peace Association hopes to be a participant. Twenty CT JPs expressed interest when we asked for your input a year ago. Your comments are welcome, especially the experience of MA residents. We'll keep you posted. Saul Haffner
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Is The Economy Impacting JPs? Yes and No "Yes, couples are definitely shopping around for JPs, but why? The fee is probably the least expensive item on your list, and without the JP you won't have a wedding. Does this sound like good sense?" Victoria Verno, Watertown CT "I have had more couples 'shopping for pricing' than in the past. Also, the weddings are being scaled back. Economy has impacted our business. I depend on this 'second' income more than ever so I participated in a Bridal Show for the first time in 5 years. I had new cards printed and a brochure professionally designed. My cost will be recovered if I get 3 wedding bookings. Eileen Cavanaugh, Branford CT "Fewer requests for same sex marriages since January and none for heterosexual marriages. Raised my fees after the CT conference and I'm sure it cost me business. YES, the economy is definitely hurting me." Trish Dayan, Stamford CT "Things are the same….some couples elope, some couples have big weddings." Mary Pugh, Norwalk CT "I have not seen any difference with couples seeking my service." Mary Kelly, Wolcott CT JPs from other states... no comment? Did you officiate on Valentine's Day? Married 2 men at the Wake Robin Inn in Lakeville, CT.
A wonderful afternoon, with about 50 guests, many of whom did readings.
Ken Cornet & Joe Mustich, Washington CT A ceremony with the Rose exchange for a young couple here on Cape Cod. I printed the ceremony on Valentine computer paper and gave them a copy. Dorothy Carpinteri, Dennisport, MA A soldier from my town flew home from Afganistan to marry his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. The Town Clerk opened Town Hall so they could get a marriage license and then let us use her conference room for the simple ceremony. I signed the license right there and the Town Clerk gave them their certified copy. A few relatives attended. It was a very touching ceremony, just under a framed American Flag. Kathy Taylor, Burlington, CT I take the cake: first two women at the Polish-American Club. The best man "forgot" and showed up 20 minutes late. So I was late for my Puerto Rican bilingual double wedding where thirty people squeezed into a tiny apartment and the processional music had 5 false starts. The first brides wore black gowns with red capes and the couples at the second wedding were in a black suit and a pink gown and a white tux and a red gown. A small dog wore a red satin dress. A very interesting evening! Laura Minor, Bristol CT Two regular weddings, then the Valentines Day group event. Mary Pugh, Norwalk CT Robes 
We are working with a new vendor for our judicial robes.
Details coming in the next newsletter, or
order now. |
FROM THE STATES: Gay Marriage Rolls On The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 3 that denying marriage to gay couples, as a ten-year old law did, is unconstitutional. The court said that that statute violates the state's equal protection clause. Marriages are expected to begin this month. After MA (2004) and CT (2008), Iowa becomes the third state and... On April 7, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage. Immediately after Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed the bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry, both the Senate (overwhelmingly) and House (barely) overrode it. Vermont was the first state to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples nine years ago and now becomes the first to permit gay marriage by legislative vote rather than by court ruling. New Hampshire, which enacted a civil unions law last year, moved a step closer to legalizing gay marriage when the state House of Representatives voted in favor of it. The state Senate still must vote, though, and the governor - who signed a civil unions bills last year - opposes it. In Maine, a bill to legalize gay marriage has nearly 60 co-sponsors in the Legislature. However, the governor there also opposes it. In California, voters approved Proposition 8 banning gay marriage last November after a court decision made it legal. The California Supreme Court is considering a petition to overturn the ban. Impersonating a JP An Arizona man was arrested on criminal charges including Fraudulent Schemes after marrying several couples while portraying himself as a licensed Justice of the Peace when he had never held such a position. He had filed marriage certificates with the County Clerk of the Court. After arrest, he claimed authorization to perform marriages based on credentials obtained from the on-line Universal Life Church. Detectives expect to identify additional victims as the investigation continues. Using the Web for JP Business: A Survey
1) Do you use social
networking websites? Which ones? How frequently?
Has it been good for
business? Keeping up with friends? 2) Do you blog or follow bloggers? Would you be interested in a blog hosted by jpUS? 3) Would you welcome the option of displaying 2-minute videos of your wedding ceremonies on www.findajp.com? 4) How else can the Justice of the Peace Association help members attract business? Share your answers. When you Move, do you take your JP Hat with you? "Just wanted to know if other JPs considering a move to another town hesitate because they will lose their position. I want to move but I NEED the JP position as I perform about 50 weddings a year. With support from other JPs, I would ask my representatives to change the law so that any JP in CT would have first dibs on any available slots in their existing affiliation." Eileen Cavanaugh, Do you agree? What's the law in your state? |
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