http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/gaymarriag_696.mp3
The same day President Bush endorsed amending the U.S. Constitution to include a same sex marriage ban, the senate gave first round approval to adding such a ban to the state constitution. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
BY A VOICE VOTE, THE SENATE GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT DEFINES MARRIAGE AS BEING BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. ONLY ONE STATE SENATOR SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURE...ST LOUIS DEMOCRAT JOAN BRAY. DURING DEBATE, SHE CONFRONTED THE SPONSOR OF THE PROPOSAL, ROLLA REPUBLICAN SARA STEELMAN. STEELMAN SAYS THE PROPOSAL DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS....BRAY DISAGREES. IF LAWMAKERS APPROVE STEELMAN'S PROPOSAL, IT WOULD GO ON THE BALLOT AND VOTERS WOULD DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION. BRAY LIKENS THE DEBATE OVER SAME SEX MARRIAGE TO THE DEBATE THAT HAPPENED DECADES AGO OVER INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE. SOME LAWMAKERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE MEASURE DOESN'T DEAL EXPLICITLY WITH CIVIL UNIONS. BUT LAWMAKERS REJECTED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD'VE EXPANDED THE PROPOSAL TO SAY MISSOURI DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CIVIL UNIONS. DEMOCRAT KEN JACOB SPONSORED THAT AMENDMENT. THE MEASURE FACES A FINAL VOTE IN THE SENATE...IF APPROVED, IT WOULD GO TO THE HOUSE FOR CONSIDERATION.