Review of the Week: 19th-25th February

• Gay Marriage Debate Continues
• Republicans Clash in Arizona
• Support for Obama's Tax Plan

Gay Marriage Debate Gathers Pace

The on-going state-by-state saga of gay marriage has had yet another tumultuous week. It began with Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey vetoing a bill to legalise gay marriage, stating that not only did he have personal objections, but he also believed that the matter should go to a referendum.

However, this week also saw the Maryland legislature pass a bill legalising same sex marriage. Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to sign it, but the matter is also likely to be put on the ballot this November.

Meanwhile, Judge Jeffrey Wright ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed in 1996 and states the lack of federal recognition for same sex marriage is unconstitutional. Karen Golinski, a federal employee, successfully argued that the her rights under the equal protection clause of the constitution had been violated when she did not receive spousal benefits.

The issue is a very hot one in the Republican presidential primary. The libertarian Ron Paul supports gay marriage, but Rick Santorum is in favour of a federal ban on same sex marriage. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are both against it, but think it to be a state issue.

Meanwhile, Governor Christie, who supports civil unions, which remains President Obama’s official position, accused the President of a lack of courage. President Obama, who is highly unlikely ever to have to sign a bill affecting gay marriage, even if he wins a second term, has attracted a lot of rancour from gay rights organisation for not openly supporting the idea of gay marriage.

Front-runner Santorum gets Hostile Reception at Arizona Debate

The CNN Debate from Arizona on Wednesday evening was the first major test of Rick Santorum as the front-runner in the Republican race, and he was found somewhat wanting on the night. A stuttering performance saw him grilled primarily by Mitt Romney on his record on earmarks and birth control when he was a Senator.

Santorum’s delivery was lengthy and unstructured, allowing Romney, who was collected and to the point, to mock Santroum for being convoluted. Romney also accused Santorum of voting through proposals which included money for birth control, and for supporting earmarks for the famous “bridge to nowhere”, a vastly funded construction in Alaska which was never built.

Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich were also in attendance. The former called Mr Santorum a fake, whilst the latter was more of an irrelevance to proceedings than he has been for a very long while and was making a very conscious effort to be more “cheerful”. He’s only successful moment with the very conservatively minded Arizona audience was when he asked why the media never asked in 2008 why President Obama had “legalised infanticide”.

The applause that that comment received indicated hoe right wing the audience were. Mr Santorum would have liked to have made more headway. However, with Romney struggling to register with conservative Republicans, we shall have to wait to see how this affects the national polls.

65% Support Obama’s “Buffett Rule” Tax Plan

A poll has shown widespread support for the “Buffett Rule” plan which is a central feature of President Obama’s tax plan. The rule would require that people who earn over $1mn would have to end up paying at least 30% tax. It is named for the billionaire Warren Buffett, who revealed that his secretary pays more tax than he does. 65% support the move, whilst 26% oppose it. Tax is becoming an increasingly tricky issue in the election, and this may mark a shift in public thinking towards a system which puts a bigger strain on those who are judged to be able to take it.