Posted on 02/01/2005 4:03:26 PM PST by Aetius
QUEERLY BELOVED Idaho Senate weighs marriage amendment Measure is vote short of passage, say proponents
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 1, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com The Idaho Senate has scheduled a vote tomorrow on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would recognize marriage as an institution between one man and one woman – but the measure right now is one vote short of passage, say proponents.
If the measure does not pass, Idaho would become the first state where such an amendment failed. Thirteen states – Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah – passed marriage amendments in 2004.
The Idaho amendment reads: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status similar to that of marriage."
The resolution passed the Senate State Affairs Committee 5-4 Friday morning, after more than three hours of testimony by dozens of proponents and critics.
The proposal needs a two-thirds majority to pass, meaning 12 senators in the 35 member Senate can stop it. According to the Idaho Statesman, 12 senators – six Democrats and six Republicans – are planning to vote no.
Boise Republican Sen. John Andreason said the state's statute prohibiting gay marriage is plenty clear and there is no reason for lawmakers to put gay marriage to voters.
"We're going to be discussing some extremely critical issues in the next election," Andreason told the paper. "I don't think that should be the primary (issue) that we're talking about in the next election."
But the proposal's sponsors say they are still hopeful.
"It's close," said Meridian GOP Sen. Gerry Sweet, one of the bill's leading sponsors. "I've got one different than you. I believe we're there."
If the votes aren't there, the resolution could be amended on the Senate floor to attract more support. A move to do so takes a simple majority of the Senate.
Some lawmakers have talked about being more open to a ban that does not rule out civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Other Republicans reportedly not on board with the amendment are: John Goedde of Coeur d'Alene, Gary Schroeder of Moscow, Charles Cioner of Twin Falls, Joe Stegner of Lewiston and Brad Little of Emmett.
Democrats opposing the amendment include David Langhorst of Boise, Elliot Werk of Boise, Kate Kelly of Boise, Mike Burkett of Boise, Clint Stennett of Kethcum and Edgar Malepeai of Pocatello.
No, although there are a number of liberals there as a result of Boise State,, Boise and Ada County still vote largely conservative. The county surrounding the Sun Valley Resort is the one county that went Democrat...the only county that went democrat in the entire state.
This is a continuing urban legend. Up north, in the Panhandle Area the Arian Nation people use to hang out and the media made a huge deal of them and their "marches". Fact is, there were only about a hundred of them at their site with maybe fifty showing up at their events.
Now they have left the state for good and went down south to Alabama or some such.
Most people in rural Idaho, by far the vast majority, are red-blooded, religious and conservative Americans who support and defend the constituion. And I speak as one living in rural Idaho outside of BOise.
They were out there in the PAC NW before the Mormons got to Utah!
This is the gang that doesn't use doctors. Most of their members have gaps where other folks have teeth since they don't go to dentists either.
Thanks for the info. I thought Boise was trending a little less red due to the university and a lot of Silicon Valley transplants. I didn't know about the Sun Valley Resort area, though. Shields up, Idaho!
They do not. They are just that, small splinter groups living in a few out of the way places across the region (meaning the entire Pacific North West and Intermountain Region.
Most people here ignore them and figure they have a right to live however they want, and worship however they want, as long as they do not infringe on others or break laws. But a statement that just oputside of Boise there are many of these types of people is just plain wrong. I do not mean to offend, but I live here and speak from my own experience in the state.
Ping!
Got one Hell of an education
In the cities of this Nation
Me and John Paul...
From Waylon Live "Me and Paul"
Any update on this?
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