Love or hate him, when Michael Heath, the Executive Director of the Maine Christian Civic League decides to tackle a referendum - he usually gets it done.

Not this time.

Citing a lack of money, low voter turn out at the June primary and a lack of volunteers, Mr. Heath has abandoned his quest to place a referendum question on the ballot for the 2009 election.   The proposal would have repealed Maine's law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education.  The proposal also included several other provisions including prohibiting the use of state funds by the attorney general's office for its civil rights teams.

This issue will not go away.  However, Mr. Heath may be playing defense as the ripple effect from California's latest foray in to same sex marriage spreads east.