Anti-gay marriage amendment passes final House committee
Thursday, May 05, 2011 at 8:57 am
- 10 Comments
A constitutional amendment that would bar gays and lesbians from marrying in Minnesota passed the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday night after brief testimony. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee and then a House floor vote. A companion bill in the Senate is awaiting a hearing on Friday in the Senate Rules Committee, which has the power to send that bill to the Senate floor. The process of getting the bill on the ballot could be complete as early as Monday.
Rep. Lyndon Carlson Sr., DFL-Crystal, “We have a $5 billion dollar problem, and here we are taking up constitutional amendments that can’t even be voted on until 2012,” he said. “This is a fiscal committee that is burning up a lot of time.”
He added that if the amendment is passed by the voters “it becomes the highest law in the state, and it would be a proposal to restrict rights. You are reversing the history of both our [state and federal] constitutions.”
Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, defended his decision to propose a marriage amendment during a budget year.
“It’s clear we are focused like a laser beam on the budget,” he said. “We are focused on that as a top priority. We inherited a $5 billion overspending problem.”
Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, found the idea of a constitutional amendment that discriminates against one group of people misguided.
“I go to a church that performs marriages for one man and one woman, one woman and one woman, and one man and one man. It looks like your constitutional amendment is interfering with my church,” she said. “You are interfering with many congregations in this state, ones like mine that are open and affirming. How can you do that?”
Gottwalt again defended himself. “I’m not doing anything but putting the question to the voters. Over 70 percent of Minnesotans say they want to vote on this.”
Despite protestations by DFLers, the committee quickly passed the bill by a voice vote along party lines. As it passed, a ruckus developed in the committee room. Someone shouted, “Civil rights should not be voted on!” and the crowd roared in approval for so long that the committee chair Rep. Mary Liz Holberg had to put the committee in recess until the Sergeant-at-Arms could clear people from the hearing room.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter10 Comments
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 9:44 am
As a former Minnesotan who lives through the ongoing horror of Prop 8, I hope that MN does not follow suit.Here in CA there is still much bitterness & division;my own middle class neighborhood is still feeling the effects of neighbor against neighbor.I truly wish you well in defeating this initiative.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 10:21 am
Gottwalt again defended himself. “I’m not doing anything but putting the question to the voters. Over 70 percent of Minnesotans say they want to vote on this.”
I wonder how many Minnesotans would like to vote on raising taxes on the rich? Please god, let me vote on that issue.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 10:33 am
It is typical of Mary Liz Holberg to abuse her authority to issue threats and order use of force to silence or clear out opponents at committee hearings while bellying up to those who think as she does with the most sickeningly sweet smiles dripping with high fructose corn syrup and assorted indulgences while not holding these sycophants to the same committee rules as the opponents. I detest her.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 11:20 am
I think it’s funny how every time Rep. Gottwald is backed into a corner about how this bill is a disgusting, terrible idea in this debate, he has nothing to offer but, “I’m just saying we should let the people decide.” He has no real defense for his own bigoted legislation.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 12:23 pm
I think this is just a misguided (and very expensive and divisive) attempt by those who oppose same-gender marriage to delay the inevitable. If public-opinion trends continue as they have been, by the time Minnesota proceeds through this lengthy, expensive process and ratifies an amendment to band SSM (assuming it gets that far) they will probably have to turn around in short order and begin the lengthy and expensive process of rescinding the amendment.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
@Paul…. amen to that…. lets vote on taxing the rich. I was there last night. It was depressing to watch
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 12:40 pm
Don’t ya love how the repugnicans waste taxpayer time and money introduces legislation that will undoubtedly waste more and vast taxpayer time and money and all the while bleating about spending problems. This will waste fortunes defending, and will lose. The Constitution is clear, all men are created equal, not tiered.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
The Declaration of Independence is the reinforcement on which the equality provisions in the Constitution intended.
Comment posted May 5, 2011 @ 12:56 pm
This is eventually going to be one of the most embarrassing votes for Minnesota. Most Americans believe in equality for everyone and voting on people’s rights is just anti-American. This will also be costly for businesses in the long run as people will just avoid doing business with the state and any companies there. The people of Minnesota need to let their Representatives know that wasting taxpayer time and money on an issues that will only bring harm to the state is not acceptable.
Comment posted May 6, 2011 @ 11:16 am
If you’re admitting that the definition of marriage is personal, which Senator Limmer did, any legislation to prohibit people from getting married that is not based on valid public health concerns – which it has been extensively proven does not apply to same-sex marriage – is a violation of the First Amendment.
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