Minn. Lawmakers Push For Vote On Gay Marriage
By Susie Jones, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Republican state lawmakers are vowing to put a gay marriage ban before Minnesota voters next year.
Republican Senators Warren Limmer, David Hann, and Paul Gazelka announced the introduction of a constitutional amendment that would give Minnesota voters the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in the 2012 Election.
Limmer says, if passed, voters will be asked whether marriage in the state should be limited to the union of one man and one woman.
"Recent polls have shown that 78 percent of the people in Minnesota want this decision to be given to them on a ballot," He said
Democratic Senator Scott Dibble opposes the measure. He says there are more pressing issues facing lawmakers.
"What family does this help in Minnesota, especially during this time of economic difficulty and crisis," he said.
Minnesota already has such a law on the books, but constitutional amendments are harder to overturn. Amendments also don't require the governor's approval. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton says he opposes the move but doesn't have the power to stop it.
Similar bills have failed in the past when Democrats controlled at least one legislative chamber. But Republicans now control the entire Legislature for the first time in 38 years.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Susie Jones Reports
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