Marriage amendments move slowly

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, February 22, 2005 | By Cheryl Wetzstein

[JohnHuang2]

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Legislative votes on amendments to uphold traditional marriage are moving forward in Tennessee, but have been postponed in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. This means that only one state — Kansas — is likely to have a public vote on a marriage amendment this year. That vote is scheduled for April 5. In Tennessee, a marriage constitutional amendment appears to be on its way to a second approval by lawmakers. Last year, lawmakers passed the amendment by a simple majority. This time, they need a two-thirds majority to put the amendment before Tennessee voters in 2006. Recently, both House and Senate panels passed the amendment with little dissent, and Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, a Democrat, said he wouldn't fight the amendment.