Marriage bill backed by Romney

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Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, told the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday that a federal marriage amendment is needed because his state is forcing same-sex "marriage" on everyone else.

"Massachusetts has redefined marriage for the entire country," said Mr. Romney, who threw his support behind the federal marriage amendment that is set for a Senate vote in a few weeks. "I can guarantee there have already been [homosexual] people married in Massachusetts that have moved to other states."

He said it's only a matter of time before lawsuits are filed in order to force other states to recognize same-sex "marriages" from Massachusetts, where the Supreme Court ruled last year that the state must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The state began doing so last month.

The Senate is set to vote in a few weeks on a constitutional amendment that would address this issue by defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Although supporters and opponents of the measure acknowledge that meeting the 67-vote threshold to pass the amendment is unlikely, pro-amendment forces still hope to muster the 60 votes needed to stop debate and put senators on the record on the amendment's merits.

Both supporters and opponents believe there are many undecided senators who can be persuaded.

Congressional Republicans are bringing the constitutional amendment to the Senate floor just weeks before the Democrats hold their convention in Boston, forcing senators to go on the record -- particularly Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, who opposes it.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, said, "Both supporters and opponents know the [amendment] will fail" in the Senate, and Republicans are just playing politics with the goal of inflicting political damage to those who vote no.

"It's not about preserving marriage, it's about preserving a Republican White House and Senate," Mr. Leahy said.

Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, said many people simply don't realize the gravity of Massachusetts's action, and hopefully Mr. Romney's testimony and the upcoming Senate vote will change this.