For the third time in four years, lawmakers yesterday defeated an attempt to advance legislation to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage.
The Republican-majority Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-6 to table a bill introduced by Sen. John Eichelberger (R., Blair) to amend the constitution to define marriage as being between a man and woman only.
The vote came before a packed hearing room without debate. Committee Chairman Stewart Greenleaf (R., Montgomery) said he brought the bill up for a vote, even though he was uncertain it would pass, to let members express their opinion on it. He called the vote a referendum on gay marriage, and said the measure would not come up again this session.
“Make no mistake, they voted to kill the bill, whatever other excuse they may give,” said Eichelberger. Opponents called the vote a victory for gay rights.
Click here for gay marriage resources in Pennsylvania.
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