Democracy Now! Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Today's Headlines

• Vermont Legislature Overrides Gay Marriage Veto
• D.C. Votes to Recognize Same-Sex Marriages
• Obama Tells Iraqis to “Take Responsibility”
• Report: White House Warns Lawmakers on Israel Disputes
• Sentence Reduced for Shoe-Throwing Iraqi Journalist
• Fujimori Sentenced to 25 Years
• Lawmakers Call for Cuba Talks
• G20 Protester Died After Assault by Police
• Report: Treasury to Bail Out Life Insurance Companies
• Quigley Wins Vacant Illinois Congressional Seat
• Franken Increases Lead in Minnesota Recount
• Judge Orders Probe of Stevens Prosecutors

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  In Historic Vote, Vermont Legislature Legalizes Gay Marriage

  The Vermont legislature made history Tuesday by becoming the first in the nation to vote in favor of gay marriage. Vermont lawmakers had voted for a same-sex marriage bill last week, but it was short of a veto-overriding majority, and Governor Jim Douglas vetoed the bill Monday. But on Tuesday, enough House members switched sides to override the veto and voted 100-to-49 to make gay marriage legal. House Speaker Shap Smith announced the final tally to resounding applause. We speak with Vermont state legislator Bill Lippert and Beth Robinson, an attorney who has led the struggle to legalize gay marriage for years. [includes rush transcript]

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  Testimony of 12-Year-Old with Two Moms Moves Some Vermont Legislators to Support Gay Marriage Bill

  Evann Orleck-Jetter testified at the public hearings on gay marriage last month before Vermont’s Joint Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Many legislators later told Evann and her parents that her testimony had moved them to support the bill.

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  The Struggle Against Mountaintop Removal: Leading Activist Mike Roselle Continues Fight Against Destructive Coal Mining

  The Environmental Protection Agency recently dealt a blow to the coal mining industry when it delayed hundreds of mountaintop coal mining projects for a new review of their environmental impact. But the EPA decision still leaves in place hundreds of existing permits for mountaintop removal. The group Climate Ground Zero has been leading protests and peaceful direct actions against the company Massey Energy to prevent mountaintop removal at Coal River Mountain in West Virginia. We speak with leading activist Mike Roselle of Climate Ground Zero. [includes rush transcript]

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  Bridging the Rural Digital Divide: FCC Starts Work on National Broadband Strategy

  The Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, begins work today on a yearlong national broadband strategy to bring high-speed broadband internet into every American home. Under the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus plan, the FCC is responsible for developing a strategy to improve broadband coverage and present it to Congress in February of 2010. We speak with Wally Bowen, executive director of the Mountain Area Information Network in Asheville. [includes rush transcript]