A Minnesota state House committee on Wednesday narrowly voted to advance a bill calling for a statewide vote to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
By a vote of 13-12, the House Rules Committee approved sending the bill to the House floor for a vote. All but one Republican, Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing) voted in favor of the bill, all Democrats voted against it.
“The founding fathers warned against tyranny of majority,” said Rep. Kathy Brynaert (DFL-Mankato). “Don’t do this.”
Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton), said,. “Why take away rights in our constitution? Why tear the people of our state apart?” […]
Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights), said, “Clearly this isn’t about the sanctity of marriage; it’s about discrimination.”
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) acknowledged that he has no authority to stop the amendment, but said Wednesday that he will oppose it “with every fiber of my being.”
Last week, the House Civil Law Committee approved the bill by a vote of 10-7 along party lines — all Republicans voted for the measure.
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The full House must take up the bill before Monday, the last day of the session; the Senate has already passed the amendment. If approved in the House, the measure would go before voters in 2012.
