AZ House votes for
ballot measure
to ban same-sex
marriage
By AP from the Web,
May 13, 2008
PHOENIX, May 05 -- Arizona
voters who rejected a ballot measure on same-sex marriage two years ago may
tackle the issue again in November.
The House voted Monday to put a proposed state constitutional amendment to
prohibit same-sex marriage on the ballot in Arizona, the only state where a
ballot measure on marriage was rejected in 2006.
The House's 33-25 vote sent the resolution (SB10242) to the Senate, whose
approval would complete legislative action to put the measure on the ballot.
The proposal is a trimmed-down version of one rejected by Arizona voters in
2006, when seven other states approved same-sex marriage bans.
The current Arizona legislative proposal backed by social conservatives would
define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The 2006 version
had that wording plus a provision that was widely interpreted as targeting civil
unions and domestic partnerships.
Arizona already has a state law that was enacted in 1996 and upheld in 2003 by a
state appellate court that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
However, supporters of the constitutional amendment said the amendment would
provide additional legal protection needed to prevent marriage from being
redefined by a court or future lawmakers.
"The people of Arizona, not politicians and not judges, need to determine the
future of marriage in our state," said Rep. Steve Yarbrough, R-Chandler.
"This is not some made-up problem. On the contrary, this amendment will
provide a real solution to a real problem."
Opponents argued that the existing law makes the amendment unnecessary and that
it insults gays and represents an attempt to exploit marriage for political
purposes.
"This is a political ploy to be used in November and I believe it is
inappropriate to use marriage as a political ploy," said Rep. Kyrsten Sinema,
D-Phoenix.
The Republican-led House's vote was mostly along party lines, with Democrats
Jack Brown of St. Johns and Pete Rios of Hayden voting for the resolution.
Tucson Republicans Pete Hershberger and Jennifer Burns voted against it.
An initial attempt by supporters to win House approval of a resolution on
same-sex marriage was thwarted in April when opponents managed to attach a
provision that would provide rights to unmarried couples.
As the House was voting Monday on the new version, Sinema tried to derail it by
invoking an obscure House rule requiring a special committee review of measures
deemed to be either an inappropriate subject of legislation or containing
"insulting or derogatory" language.
"We've never seen this before. Very good," House Speaker Jim Weiers,
R-Phoenix, said as he recessed the House floor session to consider Sinema's
objection.
However, a half-hour special meeting of the Rules Committee resulted in a 6-4
vote finding that the resolution didn't violate House rules.
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