[Vision2020] Idaho Legislature to Vote on Same Sex Marriage Ban Amendment to Constitution

Sun, 8 Feb 2004 00:29:38 EST

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House committee approves bill to ban same sex marriage=20
08:23 AM PST on Friday, February 6, 2004=20
By ROBBIE JOHNSON / KTVB=20
=20

KTVB=20
BOISE - A proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a=20
union between a man and a woman won a =E2=80=9Cdo-pass=E2=80=9D recommendati=
on from a House=20
committee Thursday, but not before a lengthy and heated debate on the subjec=
t.=20
The hearing before the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee=20
last three hours and was standing room only.=20
Backers of the bill argued even though same sex marriage is already on the=20
books, a constitutional amendment is needed to protect Idaho=E2=80=99s law.=20
=E2=80=9CThis constitutional amendment will not change the policy of the sta=
te of=20
Idaho,=E2=80=9D said Rep. Henry Kulcyzk. =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not making a=
ny change at all as far as=20
the direction of Idaho policy.=E2=80=9D=20
The Eagle Republican said Idaho is no longer immune to gay marriages in the=20
wake of this week=E2=80=99s court ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Cour=
t which=20
ruled that couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, must be given fu=
ll=20
marriage rights.=20
Opponents said the measure goes too far.=20
=E2=80=9CIt could conceivably include any of the legal steps that non-marrie=
d couples=20
currently may take to protect their relationships; such as owning joint=20
property, ensuring joint inheritance, free wills or giving each other author=
ity=20
through powers of attorney,=E2=80=9D said attorney John Hummel.=20
Despite Hummel=E2=80=99s objections and others, the bill was sent to the ful=
l House=20
on a ten to six vote.=20
A constitutional amendment must win two-thirds approval from both the House=20
and Senate. It would then be put on the November ballot, where a simple=20
majority is needed to become law.=20

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<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">House committee app=
roves bill to ban same sex marriage 
08:23 AM PST on Friday=
, February 6, 2004 
By ROBBIE JOHNSON / KTVB<=
/SPAN> 


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<TR>
<TD><IMG alt=3D* src=3D"http://www.nwcn.com/stat=
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<DIV align=3Dright><S=
PAN class=3Dvitstoryimagecredit>KTVB </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
BOISE - A proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as=
 a union between a man and a woman won a =E2=80=9Cdo-pass=E2=80=9D recommend=
ation from a House committee Thursday, but not before a lengthy and heated d=
ebate on the subject. 

The hearing before the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committe=
e last three hours and was standing room only. 

Backers of the bill argued even though same sex marriage is already on th=
e books, a constitutional amendment is needed to protect Idaho=E2=80=99s law=
. 

=E2=80=9CThis constitutional amendment will not change the policy of the=20=
state of Idaho,=E2=80=9D said Rep. Henry Kulcyzk. =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not=
 making any change at all as far as the direction of Idaho policy.=E2=80=9D=20=


The Eagle Republican said Idaho is no longer immune to gay marriages in t=
he wake of this week=E2=80=99s court ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme C=
ourt which ruled that couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, must=20=
be given full marriage rights. 

Opponents said the measure goes too far. 

=E2=80=9CIt could conceivably include any of the legal steps that non-mar=
ried couples currently may take to protect their relationships; such as owni=
ng joint property, ensuring joint inheritance, free wills or giving each oth=
er authority through powers of attorney,=E2=80=9D said attorney John Hummel.=
 

Despite Hummel=E2=80=99s objections and others, the bill was sent to the=20=
full House on a ten to six vote. 

A constitutional amendment must win two-thirds approval from both the Hou=
se and Senate. It would then be put on the November ballot, where a simple m=
ajority is needed to become law. </BODY></HTML>

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