March 4-The Kansas House today completed passage of a
proposed amendment to the state constitution, banning same-sex
marriages. The measure also prohibits granting benefits associated
with marriage to other relationships.
The vote was 88 to 36. That gives the bill only four votes more
than the two-thirds majority of 84 necessary for adoption of a
proposed constitutional change. The measure now goes to the Senate.
Before final action late this morning, some House members
predicted the proposal could receive as many as 100 votes, because
of public support for the amendment.
During yesterday's debate, the House easily defeated an attempt
to rewrite the amendment as a resolution, expressing support both
for traditional marriage and Vermont-style civil unions for
same-sex couples.
