The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) released a second ad last week attacking Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee for his support of gay marriage.

In its 60-second radio spot, the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage accused Chafee of “wasting time trying to redefine marriage instead of solving our economic problems.”

“He's got time to pressure lawmakers about gay marriage, but needs more time to get his economic plan together?” a woman tells a man in the ad.

“Sounds like he's wasting time.”

“I don't want legislators messing with marriage,” the woman adds. “Marriage brings men and women together to help ensure that as many children as possible are raised by a mom and a dad. And kids need a mom and a dad.”

The ad comes just three weeks after the group argued in a television ad that Chafee's November 2 win wasn't decisive enough for him to back a gay marriage proposal.

“A close race for governor. Lincoln Chafee gets just 36 percent of the vote. Fewer votes than the Cool Moose Party,” a female announcer says with a giggle, referring to Cool Moose perennial candidate Robert Healey's race for Rhode Island lieutenant governor.

“Now Chafee claims a mandate to push gay marriage with no vote of the people. Eighty percent of Rhode Islanders want the chance to vote on marriage just as voters in 31 other states have done,” she adds. (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)

Lawmakers are expected to begin debate on a gay marriage bill on Wednesday.

In his inauguration speech, Chafee, a Republican turned independent, reiterated his call for lawmakers to legalize gay marriage and argued that the institution would be an economic boom for the state.

“Lincoln Chafee has recently asked for more time to work on the state budget, but our question is why has he been wasting the state's time pushing his same-sex marriage agenda instead of focusing on the economy?” Christopher Plante, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of NOM, said in a statement.

Legislators in Rhode Island have considered a gay marriage bill every year since 1997.

Maryland lawmakers will also debate the issue this session. Hawaii will debate a civil unions bill.