PORTLAND (AP) — A national think tank says new gay marriage laws in Maine, Maryland and Washington will generate at least $166 million in wedding spending in the next three years.
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that nearly 18,000 samesex couples in the three states will exchange vows in the first three years after the new laws are in effect.
Wedding-related spending for in-state couples is expected be about $16 million in Maine, $63 million in Maryland and $89 million in Washington. The estimates do not include out-of-state same-sex couples that travel to those states to marry.
Lee Badgett, research director at the institute and an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts, says the additional spending will create new jobs and boost tax revenues.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less