Hawaii governor vetoes same-sex civil unions bill

By Michael Foust

HONOLULU —Following weeks of speculation, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a same-sex civil unions bill July 6, calling the proposal “marriage by another name” and saying the issue should be decided only by citizens in a statewide vote.

It was a significant defeat for homosexual activists, who had pressured the Democratic-controlled legislature to revive and pass the bill on the last day of the session in April and had hoped the governor, a Republican who opposes “gay marriage,” could be persuaded either to sign it or to let it become law without her signature.

Faith Leaders Back Obama on Immigration Reform

By Jennifer Riley | Christian Post Reporter

President Obama’s call on Thursday for the federal government to quickly pass immigration reform was backed by diverse and somewhat unlikely groups of religious leaders.

EU suggests raising retirement age to 70

By Stephanie Flanders | BBC

There are no good options for cutting government debt, but extending all of our working lives could be the best of a bad lot.

That’s the basic argument in a paper released [pdf link] on the back of today’s NIESR report.