Brody's Notes... Minnesota Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Ban Referendum

Minnesota Senate Chamber
Photo via WikiMedia

By Mark Singer -- Washington D. C. | The Minnesota Senate voted 38 to 27 today in favor of placing a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state on the ballot for a voter referendum next year. The state currently has a law in place that bans same-sex marriage, but the GOP controlled Senate argued that it was absolutely necessary to have the amendment which in their words would preclude legislators bending to the will of "Homosexual Activists" or "activist judges" from ignoring the "will" of the people.

The debate was contentious and lasted for nearly 3-1/2 hours with the vote ending largely along party lines in the Republican majority controlled body.

State Senator Warren Limmer, (R-Maple Grove) chief sponsor of the proposed amendment told reporters after the vote:

"I believe it is the people who should determine the meaning and structure of our policies through the process of political debate, a statewide community conversation and ultimately democratic voting."

Limmer had introduced the measure last month and it is expected to pass the Republican majority held House next. Minnesota's Democratic Governor, Mark Dayton, who has publicly opposed a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, will be bypassed by putting the question on the ballot in 2012. In Minnesota, the only way to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot is to have both chambers approve it by simple majorities. Such a bill is not subject to a veto or any other action by the governor.

Reuters reported that the Democrats are furious with  their colleagues:

"We are not going to have a conversation, we are going to have an ugly, angry, divisive campaign," Senator Scott Dibble, a Minneapolis Democrat, said.

Dibble, who is gay and showed a picture of his partner in the debate, said Minnesota would be "profoundly changed through this 18-month experience that we are about to embark on." 

Senate Democrats also questioned the drive to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot less than two weeks before the end of the legislative session with the state's $5.1 billion budget gap still unresolved.

"It sends a pretty clear message to me that Republicans in this body care more about passing their divisive social agenda than putting Minnesotans back to work or balancing the state's budget," Senate Minority Leader Thomas Bakk said.

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