VOTERS MAY DECIDE GAY MARRIAGE ISSUE NEXT YEAR
Monday, November 14th, 2005 -- 11:30 AM
A proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution is expected to play a big role in next November?s elections. The proposed amendment, which could appear on a statewide ballot next November 7th would define marriage as ?between one man and one woman?, it further states: ?A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."Supporters and critics in Wisconsin are gearing up for the campaign here, and both said residents should be ready for a year's worth of discussions about the ramifications and stakes of the measure.
Republican supporters of the amendment hope for maximum political punch by timing the statewide vote to next year's governor's election, in which the GOP hopes to unseat Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. In 2003, Doyle vetoed a "Defense of Marriage" bill that would have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, prompting backers to seek a constitutional amendment. Doyle said he vetoed it because state law already makes that distinction clear.
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