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Pa. Senate backs gay-marriage ban.
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The state Senate yesterday approved a constitutional amendment reaffirming the state’s definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, but left intact existing legal recognitions of domestic partnerships between gay couples and unmarried heterosexual couples. With yesterday’s 38-12 vote, the amendment will now be returned to the House, where members only several weeks ago had passed a more restrictive version of the same-sex marriage ban. Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R., Jefferson) said he was uncertain whether the chamber would consider the Senate version before the summer recess began June 30. “What passed the House overwhelmingly ended up not passing the Senate. The version that passed the Senate failed in the House,” he said. “We’re going to see if the differences can be reconciled.” An amendment must pass both chambers in two consecutive legislative sessions, after which voters would be asked to decide the issue in… |
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