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Gay Marriage Ban Heads To 2012 Ballot

By Pat Kessler, WCCO-TV 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The countdown is on to the end of the legislative session.

State law says it must end Monday with serious issues still unsolved regarding the budget, a Vikings stadium, and more. There was also a lot of emotion this weekend over a gay marriage ban.

The Minnesota House voted 70-62 late Saturday night to approve the amendment banning gay marriage. Angry protesters waiting outside the House chambers to offer feedback.

"Shame, shame, shame, shame," they screamed.

Republicans were escorted out of the House chambers by armed state patrol officers.

They'd just finished six hours of emotional debate on the gay marriage ban. It will go on the 2012 ballot: Here's what it will say.

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?"

That question will go on the 2012 election ballot. It's a very big deal for Republicans who pushed hard to pass it during the legistlative session.

The clock runs out on the legislative session at midnight on Monday, and the legislature and Governor have not done what they came here to do: Balance the budget.

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