PA Marriage Ban "Indefinitely Tabled"

May 7, 2008

Harrisburg, PA—In a surprise move just hours before the Pennsylvania Senate was expected to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state the measure's backer pulled the bill.

Sen. Michael Brubaker (R) in asking to have the bill indefinitely tabled said that even though there was broad support in the Senate it would likely fail in the House.

It has become apparent that, as the issue stands today, Senate Bill 1250 will not move in the House, said Brubaker.

The proposed amendment easily passed a key Senate committee on Monday (story) and was headed for a vote on the full Senate floor when Brubaker made his announcement.

Tabling the bill will not kill it, but Brubaker said he needs time to muster House support. It is unlikely it will resurface again this year. The Pennsylvania Senate is controlled by Republicans, the House by Democrats.

Rep. Babette Josephs (D) the powerful chair of the House State Government Committee vowed she would not allow the bill to come to a committee vote, ensuring it would not make to a full vote of that chamber.

To put a proposed amendment on the ballot it would need to be approved by both houses in two consecutive sessions of the legislature. 

Pennsylvania already limits marriage to opposite-sex couples but supporters of the amendment say a clear definition of marriage is needed in the constitution to prevent judges from striking down the law.

A recent poll found that although most Pennsylvanians oppose same-sex marriage there was widespread support civil unions.

The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, found 65 percent of those questioned support civil unions while only 27 percent were opposed.

Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D) who opposes the amendment told a news conference at the Capitol that Brubaker was only making excuses by saying he was pulling the bill because of opposition in the House.

Fumo said there was support in the Senate for stripping out the civil union prohibition, something that Brubaker opposes.

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