politics

WASHINGTON - To the surprise of no one, the Senate on Wednesday turned aside a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, a defeat for President Bush and Republican leaders.

The 49-48 vote to limit debate fell 11 short of the 60 needed to block a two-day filibuster and force an up-or-down vote. The House is expected to vote on its version of the amendment next month.

Since the debate gained force two years ago, the Bible, God and religious morals have often been heard, and Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., took note as he voted "no."

"Giving a Bible to a politician is like giving a blowtorch to a pyromaniac," he said. Dayton called the amendment "un-Christian," saying he found no text in the New Testament where same-sex marriage or same-sex relationships were denounced.

Much of the debate has played out against the backdrop of the congressional midterm elections in five months.

Democrats complained that GOP leaders brought it up as a wedge issue to bolster support from social conservatives. Republicans argued that it reflects popular sentiment and would prevent the courts from redefining marriage.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., voted to end the filibuster, saying the Senate should have a chance to vote on the merits of the amendment.

He argued that marriage is between one man and one woman, and that court judgments can't substitute judgments made in legislatures.

"Today we had the opportunity to protect states from activist judges who take it upon themselves to legislate from the bench, and unfortunately the process was not allowed to move forward," Coleman said. "This amendment would have put this issue back in the hands of the voters of each state."

To be enacted, a constitutional amendment needs two-thirds support in the Senate and House, and has to be ratified by 38 state legislatures.

Brady Averill is a correspondent in the Star Tribune Washington Bureau • 202-383-0015.