MONTPELIER -- Vermonters for Traditional Marriage, the political action committee of Take It To The People, is vowing to continue in their effort to preserve traditional marriage through the elections in November. This comes in response to today's vote in the Vermont House to accept the so-called "civil unions" bill as passed by the Senate last week.

"The House's passage of this bill marks the close of only one chapter in our crusade to preserve traditional Vermont family values," said Michele Cummings, President of Take It To The People. "The next chapter begins tomorrow, when our organization meets to discuss the only opportunity Vermonters are being given to express their will: the November elections."
Vermonters for Traditional Marriage is the political action committee of Take It To The People (TiP). TiP is a Vermont grassroots organization with more than 8,000 members that has been advocating for a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

"All of Vermont should be feeling a little shell-shocked today," said Cummings. "The pace at which this landmark legislation flew through the process is unprecedented. But rather than brood over our narrow defeat, we're simply going to avail ourselves the opportunity to put the democratic process to work by ensuring pro-traditional marriage legislators fill the seats in the State House next year."
Many legislators who supported the civil unions bill do not fear the voters in November because they believe voters will simply forget about the issue. However, TiP believes the Legislature's action on this issue is such a significantly defining moment in Vermont politics that the people couldn't possibly forget.

"We've spent an enormous amount of time and energy making legislators and the Governor well aware of our concerns over this issue. At this point, I think it's safe to say we have an understanding with the Legislature and the Governor," said Cummings. "Those who supported the bill that is gay marriage in everything but name knew before they cast their vote that they would be subject to a campaign to unseat them in November. They did what they felt they had to do and now it's our turn to do what we have to do. Democracy in action -it's a wonderful thing."

TiP plans to use their political action committee, Vermonters for Traditional Marriage, to raise money, recruit candidates, educate voters, and endorse people running for the House, Senate, and Governor this November.