Back-to-back debates for gubernatorial candidates

Attorney General Tom Reilly said Thursday that state legislators should vote on whether to allow a ballot question that would ban gay marriage, even though he personally opposes it.

Kicking off a pair of forums Thursday with this fall's gubernatorial candidates, the Democrat said it was proper for lawmakers to hold a vote during their constitutional convention on July 12, rather than defeat the measure through parliamentary tactics.

Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, complained Wednesday that such maneuvering by the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate would subvert democracy, since 170,000 people signed petitions calling for the ballot question in 2008.

"I'm opposed to the constitutional amendment, but, yes, I think the legislators should vote on this," said Reilly during a debate at New England Cable News. "I would vote against it if I were a legislator but they should vote on this."

Reilly's two Democratic opponents, Deval Patrick and Chris Gabrieli, were less clear on the point.

"I'm not in the Legislature but I wish they wouldn't" vote on the matter, Patrick said. "I think we've had enough of this debate. I've been married for 22 years in a straight marriage; there's nothing about gay marriage that threatens my marriage."

Later, when pressed, Patrick added, "I'm going to let the Legislature run the Legislature."

Gabrieli, as he has in recent debates, refused to take a stand, saying he considered the question out of the scope of the governor's race.

"I would make sure that if it goes to a vote, voters of Massachusetts reach to the best of themselves and continue with something that has been good for our state," he said. Afterward, Gabrieli added: "We're running for governor, not the Legislature."

Later in the day, the Democrats were slated to reconvene in Boston for a forum focused on jobs and the economy. Also scheduled to attend were Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, as well as Christy Mihos and Grace Ross, who are running as independent and third-party candidates, respectively.

During the New England Cable News debate, which was co-sponsored by The Boston Globe, WBUR-FM and MassInc., the candidates also split on whether Massachusetts should repeal a 1913 law that prohibits applicants from getting married in Massachusetts if the unions would be excluded in their home states.

With Massachusetts being the only state to allow gay marriage, many out-of-state couples have tried to get married here but have been blocked by the law.

Gabrieli and Patrick called for repealing it, while Reilly said the law should remain out of respect for other state's decisions in the matter. Gabrieli used the occasion to bash Healey and Romney, saying they were stirring the issue for political gain.

"I hope this year's election is run on the record of this administration," the businessman said. "I expect a lot of other divisive social issues to be floated by them in an attempt to distract people from what's really at stake, which is a lot."

In addition, the candidates sparred over the question of whether the state should repeal or raise the passing score for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test required of all graduating seniors.

Patrick, a former Clinton administration figure, called for raising the standard. Reilly suggested a score of 240 instead of the current 220, but Gabrieli opposed that saying students need help not just to pass it, but to show expertise in the subject matter.

The Board of Education took a preliminary vote this week to raise the score to 240. The new standard would require students who score between 220 and 240 to take extra classes in the subjects they fail.

"We need to continue to work hard to help every kid get over that passing grade," Gabrieli said. "But we also need to say passing alone is not enough. ... They need to reach proficiency, even advanced levels, if they're going to have the skills needed to compete in the 21st Century."

Reilly called for more remedial programs so students could not only meet the current passing score, but an enhanced one. "We should shoot for 240 as a passing score, but we have to bear in mind that some of these kids are just passing at 220," the attorney general said.

Patrick also called for added school funding, saying, "I think if the best we do is think of the MCAS as a silver bullet -- the one and sole measure of a child's advancement academically, socially and otherwise in public education -- then we are missing something. We have got to be about the whole child and raising the standards of the whole school."