House Rejects Marriage Amendment

WASHINGTON -- The House on Tuesday rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, ending for now the congressional debate over whether or not to include a ban on same sex marriages in the US constitution.

The 236-187 vote for the proposal to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman was 47 short of the two-thirds majority needed to advance a constitutional amendment. It followed six weeks after the Senate also decisively defeated the amendment. The amendment needed the yes votes of two-thirds of those voting.

"Today's vote against this divisive amendment is the latest defeat for those looking to use our Constitution as a partisan weapon this election year," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Our nation is engaged in an important conversation about the best way to ensure equal rights and protections for all American families, including LGBT families. While we respect the fact that people have differing views on the issue, Republicans in Washington have refused to constructively participate in that conversation, choosing instead to use marriage as a wedge issue in a desperate and cynical attempt to salvage their electoral prospects this fall.

"Democrats believe that every American should have equal rights and protections under the law, and that the best way to protect American families is to help them confront the challenges they face in their daily lives. That is why Democrats are working every day to protect American families by making health care affordable for all Americans, raising the minimum wage, creating good jobs that stay in America, improving our schools, making our communities safer and providing more resources to help parents raise and support their families in these challenging times.

"Instead of joining us, President Bush and the Republicans in his 'Do Nothing' Congress continue to focus their energy on divisive efforts to scapegoat LGBT Americans for political gain. That is not an American value."