07.18.06
House rejects constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a proposed U.S. constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, ending for another year a congressional debate that supporters of the ban hope will still reverberate in this fall’s mid-term elections. The 236–187 vote for the proposal to define marriage as a union of a man and a woman was 47 short of the two-thirds majority needed to advance a constitutional amendment.
“The overwhelming majority of the American people support traditional marriage,” said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Republican from Colorado, sponsor of the amendment.
The measure is “all for the purpose of pandering to a narrow political base.” said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, an openly gay Democrat from Wisconsin. “This hateful and unnecessary amendment is unworthy of our great Constitution.”
The White House, in a statement Tuesday, urged passage of the measure. “When activist judges insist on redefining the fundamental institution of marriage for their states or potentially for the entire country, the only alternative left to make the people’s voice heard is an amendment of the Constitution.”
The U.S. Constitution has been amended only 27 times, including the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights. In addition to two-thirds congressional approval, a proposed amendment must be ratified by three fourths of the states.