Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Missouri Citizens to Vote on Homosexual 'Marriage'

But when is the question????
State lawmakers voted May 14 to put the constitutional amendment for the marriage ban to a public vote. But Secretary of State Matt Blunt, a Republican, has not yet done so because, he said, he has not received official, signed notice from legislative leaders.

Gov. Bob Holden and Nixon, both Democrats, have argued that a signed notice is unnecessary and that Blunt has received enough documentation of the legislative vote to set the election in August, which Nixon says was the intent of lawmakers.

“They felt, given the circumstances in the country right now, the people of Missouri needed a chance to speak on this question,” said Paul Wilson, an assistant attorney general who argued the case before the appeals court Monday. “The governor is giving them that chance at the earliest possible date, and that's the August election.”

Putting the issue on the November ballot could affect general election races, including those for governor and president. A strong turnout for the gay-marriage amendment could help Republican candidates.
Article here.

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