Senate OKs rewritten marriage proposal

The state Senate last night voted to let Pennsylvanians decide if they want to insert language into the state Constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. But unlike the House, the Senate didn't include language explicitly barring civil unions.

The Senate passed the legislation on a 38-12 bipartisan vote. It mirrors the state's 1996 marriage-protection law, but supporters said the legislation would prevent courts from declaring it unconstitutional. All midstate senators supported the bill.

The Senate bill is narrower in scope than a measure the House approved this month. The House bill included language that also would have prohibited any legal recognition of a marriage equivalent, such as a civil union.

Critics said the Senate bill is weaker and could delay a constitutional amendment.

"We believe the people of Pennsylvania deserve the opportunity at the ballot box to effectively protect marriage. The House version would permit that. The Senate version won't," said Michael Geer of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

"Things don't look hopeful that Pennsylvanians will be able to vote on protection of the institution of marriage in 2007," he said.

Amending the constitution requires both chambers to pass an identical bill in two separate legislative sessions before it can be placed on the ballot for voters to ratify.

Both chambers must pass the same bill 90 days before the general election, which means they would have to agree on the wording before leaving for the summer recess to get it on the ballot next year.

Opponents of the amendment acknowledged the restraint shown by senators.

"There will be no doubt what the intention is," said Larry Frankel of the American Civil Liberties Union.

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