Welcome to On Politics, I'm your host Andrew Chiappazzi. If you didn't catch the show last week, then you're the most pathetic excuse for a human being I've ever seen. Well, maybe not, but still. Today is the much-hyped debate between Mike Browne and Peter NeCastro over Gay Marriage. We'll get to that and the rest of the show in a minute, but first, for those poor souls who have never seen the show, here's what we do. I've got three political topics – and in the case of debate shows like today, two – that I'll give you the scoop on. The information is compiled from a multitude of sources, facts are double and triple checked, and then at the end of each story, I'll over my opinion. Hey, what would a political news show be without the pundit offering their own opinion? Pretty boring, if you ask me. This isn't your father's Nightline; it's Hardball on steroids. On with the agenda.

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I'll start off with the background on the gay marriage debate. Whose tinder lit the brush fire that has engulfed the nation? Also, why is this such an important issue, and which states are the most active in the battles? Then, after all the boring stuff, we'll turn liberal Mike Browne and conservative Peter NeCastro loose as they express their views in what should be a highly entertaining debate.

After we clean the blood off the walls and get the security detail back from removing everyone, I'll finish up with a rant about the city of Erie cutting funding to the Fire Departments and the removal of Fire Chief Bob Hyrtel by Mayor Filippi Monday.

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Alrighty then, let's put on the surgical gloves and get this beast rolling…

It was the issue that no one wanted to touch, until, where else but San Francisco stepped into the foray. Beginning February 24 th , the city of San Francisco has been bypassing state law and has married massive amounts of gay couples, including comedian and activist Rosie O'Donnell. California Governor “Ahnuld” Schwarzenegger has come out opposed to the gay marriages, saying:

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“Our civilized society and legal system is based upon a respect for and adherence to the rule of law. The City and County of San Francisco 's unfortunate choice to disregard state law and grant marriage certificates to gay couples directly undermines this fundamental guarantee. As Attorney General, you have the authority to take legal action to require the City and County of San Francisco to comply with the laws of the State.”

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The state of Washington on Monday followed California , New York and Massachusetts as new battlegrounds for the question of legalized same-sex marriages. A lawsuit was filed Monday morning in Seattle on behalf of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses. The lawsuit, like similar ones in Vermont and Massachusetts that were successful, argues that the King County Clerk violated the state constitution's guarantee of "equality, liberty and privacy" by denying the licenses. The suit differs from the others in that Washington is one of 38 states with laws explicitly prohibiting same-sex marriages -- laws that were passed in reaction to a string of victories for advocates of marriage rights for gays in Vermont , Massachusetts and Canada .

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Both President Bush and Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry are against Gay Marriage, but Kerry would approve civil unions with equal rights. Bush has said he is willing to sign and enforce a constitutional amendment that bans gay marriages. Bush commented,

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“After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization.

Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires clarity. On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be heard. Activist courts have left the people with one recourse.

If we're to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America . Decisive and democratic action is needed because attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country.”

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There's the background, and we'll be back with Mike Browne and Peter NeCastro and their perspectives, after this. You're watching On Politics on KINGTV.

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Welcome back to On Politics, I'm Andrew Chiappazzi. Joining me now are two gentlemen who have graciously agreed to offer their perspective on the highly controversial subject known as Gay Marriage. First off, thank you both for joining us. On my left is senior Mike Browne, a die-hard liberal who is for gay marriage, or at the very least, civil unions with equal rights for gay couples. On my right is freshman Peter NeCastro, a conservative who is very much against gay marriage and civil unions. Now, these two gentlemen have been briefed on the rules regarding this segment. No foul or derogatory language is permitted, and you must stay on topic. I control the microphone, and I reserve the right to pull it away from either of you if you step out of line. Now, I don't expect you to, but since it is a controversial topic, we must take every precaution. You will also only have one minute to state your opinion, in order to allow equal time for both sides, and to not run over our time limit.

The first item that needs to be cleared is whether you think the topic of gay marriage is a civil rights debate, much like the Civil Rights issues in the 1960s with African Americans, or is it a religious and morality debate, similar to the abortion debate? Peter, we'll start with you. You have one minute, beginning now…

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Ok, thanks. Now Mike, where do you stand? Is it a civil rights or religious and morality issue? You have one minute, begin.

Alright, we all realize that homosexuals are people too. As simple as that sounds, they aren't afforded the same rights as heterosexuals, even though they are as human as the rest of us. Why should/shouldn't they be allowed to have the same rights? Mike?

Peter?

Alright then, is it up to the states to decide the status of those rights then, Peter?

Mike?

Should Congress then pass a law either banning or approving gay marriage? Mike?

Peter?

Alright, we're just about out of time for this. You each have a minute for your closing thoughts, summing everything up that you've been expressing here today about Gay Marriage. Peter, we'll start with you?

Mike, your final thoughts?

Well there you have it folks, the student perspective of gay marriage. We'll be back right after this. You're watching On Politics on KINGTV.

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Welcome back to On Politics, I'm your host Andrew Chiappazzi.

Monday turned out to be a very tumultuous day for Erie Mayor Rick Filippi and now former Fire Chief William Hertel.

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Filippi issued an ultimatum to Hertel regarding the closing of a fire station and the subsequent layoff of 16 firefighters. Filippi wants to close close either a tower or engine company at the Central Fire Station, West 12th and Sassafras streets, or one at the South Central station on Peach Street . They are the only two of the five stations that house two companies. Calling it a "sad day for the citizens of Erie who pay taxes," Hertel instead suggested the city close Engine 11 on West Eighth Street in the Frontier neighborhood because it has limited geographic range to respond to calls, as compared to the other companies. He said doing so would increase the response time in the area now served by Engine 11 by three to four minutes. "That means three to four minutes longer before the application of oxygen and (medical attention) for stroke and heart attack victims," Hertel wrote. Meanwhile, councilman Ian Murray and Filippi had their own comments about the proceedings.

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Now, as the son of a volunteer firefighter with Harborcreek Volunteer Fire Department, you viewers are lucky to have an at least semi-educated person to inform you of the latest mistake by Rick Filippi. Apparently, it wasn't enough to try and back his family into some money and property with the International Paper deal, but also cut jobs in one of the most vital parts of a city: it's fire department. Several years ago, there were 13 stations throughout Erie , with 6 different towers. There are now 8, soon to be 7, stations with 2 towers. Hey, I realize there's a budget crunch going on at City Hall, but perhaps our esteemed city government would like to have a pay cut instead of cutting into an already underappreciated, under funded, and undermanned fire department.

I'd like to see Mayor Filippi go battle a four-alarm blaze in the heart of Erie, trudge around carrying several dozen pound hoses and several pounds more of equipment in ninety degree heat on hot asphalt while fighting a roaring fire that reaches temperatures that can be hot enough to melt the skin and muscle right off the bone. You want flame broiled, there you go. Filippi has angered a very potent group of people, and he is very quickly losing whatever support he had left. Good riddance.

That's it for this week, I'll be back next Friday with a look at Karl Rove, the devilish-fiend behind the Bush re-election campaign. That's not being biased…wait until you see what he's done in the past. Until then, go educate yourselves.