Karyn Polito on Civil Rights

	Karyn Polito on Civil Rights Eleventh Worcester Republican (MA State Rep)

Evolved on gay marriage; now favors it

Democrats sought to depict Polito Tuesday as a creature of the GOP's far right, previewing a likely line of attack they will deploy during the campaign, [labelling her] "well outside our Commonwealth's mainstream." Baker's camp pushed back, saying Polito, who voted against gay marriage after the Supreme Judicial Court legalized it in 2003, has evolved on the issue, the way many Democrats have, and now favors gay marriage. Source: Mass IEPAC: Research Profile on Charlie Baker, p.155 , Sep 1, 2014

Voted YES on defining marriage as one man and one woman

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform indicates voting NO in Part I: Families & Children:Domestic Partnership. [State Rep. Polito, a Republican, voted YES].

Vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment: "It being the public policy of the Commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of marriage, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Massachusetts. This article is self-executing, but the General Court may enact laws... establishing civil unions."

Relevant platform section:Part I: Families & Children: Domestic Partnership: "We oppose actions that would define marriage solely as a relationship between a man and a woman, and that would ban the recognition of any other relationship as marriage or its legal equivalent. We oppose efforts that would ban the provision of any benefits to gay and lesbian families that are now granted exclusively to married couples."

Source citation: Constitutional Amendment ; vote number 522

Source: Massachusetts House voting record via MassScorecard.org , Feb 11, 2004

Supported $900K for disability & mentoring aid

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform indicates voting YES in Part I: Families & Children:Persons with Disabilities. [State Rep. Polito, a Republican, voted YES].

Override Gov. Romney's reduction of a Budget Line Item which cut: $99,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts; $304,000 for Work, Inc. and $500,000 for Best Buddies Massachusetts [two programs for job training of people with disabilities].

Relevant platform section: PART I: FAMILIES & CHILDREN, DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY: Persons with Disabilities: "We believe state assistance should be made more readily available for community-based care, and should not be inappropriately biased toward institutional settings."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 254

Source: Massachusetts House voting record via MassScorecard.org , Jul 10, 2003

Opposed "Turning 22" mental disability program

Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform indicates voting YES in Part III: Health Care:Mental Health. [State Rep. Polito, a Republican, voted NO].

Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which eliminated state funding for the "Turning 22" program, which provides residential and treatment services for severely disabled individuals (who are mandated to exit other state programs after age 21). "Turning 22" is designed to allow a person to remain where his or her family lives.

Relevant platform section: PART III: HEALTH CARE, ACCESS & CHOICE: Mental Health: "Our Party supports the full implementation of mental health policies which will provide emergence care, family support, and appropriate housing to our citizens with chronic mental health disorders."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 253