Political Notebook

Protestors and supporters rally ahead of gay marriage vote

Thousands of people are expected to pack into the Minnesota Capitol today as the House takes up a bill to legalize gay marriage.

Two hours before the debate was set to begin, protestors and supporters were already lined up outside the House chamber chanting in support of their causes. Opponents of gay marriage clutched pink signs that read "Don't erase moms and dads." Supporters carried their own orange signs that said "I support the freedom to marry."

It's already getting loud and hot in the Capitol and security officials have advised they will not allow people to enter the Capitol once they've determined it's reached maximum capacity. Meanwhile, there are several school kid groups that happen to be here today touring the Capitol.

Most of the members of the southeast MInnesota delegation have stated how they plan to vote on the gay marriage bill, but there are a few uncertainties. Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, has declined to discuss how she will vote. She favors a proposal by Rep.Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, to remove the word "marriage" in state law and replace it with "civil unions." He argues that would get government out of defining marriage. He plans to offer his bill as an amendment on the House floor today. Norton has said in the past that if the same-sex marriage bill did come to the floor, she would have a hard time voting against it.

Also unknown is Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona. He has declined to answer questions about how he will vote. All the other southeast Minnesota House Republicans have said they will vote no and the other Democrats will vote yes.

The debate kicks off at noon, and I will be live tweeting on my twitter feed @pbhcarlson.

Kelly not in support of 'civil marriage' proposal

A new proposal that could open the door to more Republicans voting for the gay marriage bill doesn't have Rep. Tim Kelly's support.

The amendment filed Wednesday by Rep. David FitzSimmons, R-Albertville, would replace the word "marriage" with the words "civil marriage" in state statutes. The Associated Press reports that the proposal has the backing of the group that has been pushing for the legalization of gay marriage — Minnesotans United for All Families — and House Majority Leader Erin Murphy. Meanwhile, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck has reported that GOP Sen. Branden Peterson believes the amendment could get six Republicans to vote for the bill in the Senate.

But Kelly isn't getting on board with the idea. The Red Wing Republican prefers his proposal to eliminate the word "marriage" altogether in state law and replace it with "civil unions." Kelly notably defied his caucus in 2011 voting against putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot to ban same-sex marriage. All along, Kelly said his opposition has been to the idea of government being involved in defining marriage. FitzSimmons' amendment fails to solve that.

"My civil union bill is all about rights," he said. "It's about equality, and it sets everybody on the same page and it hands over the rights. But apparently that is not enough today. We want government-mandated acceptance of the new definition of marriage, and I believe that is fundamentally wrong. I don't want to tell anybody in my caucus what to believe about marriage."

Kelly still plans to offer his civil union proposal as an amendment to the gay marriage bill during tomorrow's debate.

 

A look at how Davids, Poppe and Pelowski will vote on gay marriage bill tonight

The  House Ways and Means Committee is set to take up a bill that would legalize gay marriage tonight. Three southeast Minnesota lawmakers serve on the committee. So just how do they plan to vote? I put that question to all three of them today.

Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, said she will cast a "yes" vote in committee to move the bill forward. As for how she will vote on the bil when it gets to the House floor, she said she is leaning towards voting yes.

"People are still weighing in on both sides, but I am leaning towards supporting it," she said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, said he is a firm no on gay marriage.

"I believe very strongly that marriage is between one man and one woman," he said. "Many people say they are struggling with this vote. They think it's a tough vote. For me, it's the easiest vote I will take all session."

Then there's Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona. He sent an email outlining his position on the issue. And while he did not specificially state how he plans to vote, he makes it clear he does not think the House should be taking up social issues before work on the budget bills are completed. Below is a copy of his email.

"This is a social issue that should be dealt with only after the legislature completes its work on the budget. This must be true of all social issues this session. The long standing budget problems of Minnesota have to be resolved with finality. This means raising revenue and balancing the budget with permanent funding streams. It will require our full attention.

There is next session. By that time the budget issues should not only be resolved but Minnesota should be in a position to reinvest once again in improving our quality of life. The new majorities created by the November elections should govern in the best interests of all of Minnesota and not just placate political bases. In the 2010 and 2012 elections Minnesotans rejected DFL majorities in 2010 and Republican majorities in 2012 because they governed from their political left wing and right wing bases.

It is time to govern with a firmness and fairness that will allow social issues to be addressed not from the far left or the far right but with dignity for everyone."

Senjem says his vote on gay marriage will be 'spontaneous'

At least one Rochester lawmaker is not sure how he'll vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Republican Sen. Dave Senjem said he is just going to wait until the day of the debate and make a decision when he is faced with pushing the red or green button.

"I am just going to wait until that magic moment and make that decision in a pretty spontaneous way," he said.

If he had to vote at this moment, he said he would probably vote "no." But he said he is not sure what he will do when actually confronted with the decision. When he talks to young people, it is clear most of them support gay marriage. He added that attempts to block gay marriage amount to society "standing in front of a freight train."

 

 

Sen. Dave Senjem said he is not sure how he will vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Local lawmakers back push for civil unions

A Red Wing Republican opposed to legalizing gay marriage is urging fellow lawmakers to back civil unions instead.

Rep. Tim Kelly announced Wednesday he plans to introduce a bill today recognizing civil unions. He said his bill offers a chance for a bipartisan solution to a very difficult social issue.

“We are here offering a way to unite Minnesota and bring forth a bill that will take the divisive social issues away from the political arena and give everyone the individual rights they deserve,” Kelly said.

But supporters of same-sex marriage say civil unions would treat gay couples as second-class citizens, creating a separate but unequal system.

“Who dreams of growing up and getting civil unioned to somebody? You dream of falling in love and getting married. That is what this is about,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who is sponsoring a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

Gay marriage advocates a prime opportunity to pass legislation this session legalizing gay marriage with Democrats in control of the Legislature and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton in the Governor’s Mansion. Same-sex marriage bills have already cleared all the key committees on straight party-line votes and are awaiting action on the House and Senate floors. Dayton has expressed his strong support for gay marriage and is expected to sign such a bill.

But not all Democrats are comfortable with the fast pace of the same-sex marriage debate. Assistant Minority Leader Kim Norton of Rochester is the lone Democrat to sign onto Kelly’s bill. She said she is disappointed that her party’s leadership is moving ahead with a vote on the marriage issue this year. Civil unions offer a compromise on a very divisive issue among her constituents.

“The community is very split on this issue, and I am just trying very hard to listen and to do the right thing,” she said.

When asked if she would vote against a bill legalizing gay marriage, Norton said she is undecided. But she added that “I tend to think I could not vote against the civil rights of another individual.”

Kelly opposes same-sex marriage push, says supporters 'overreaching'

Two years ago, Red Wing Rep. Tim Kelly was among a handful of Republican lawmakers who bucked their party and voted against putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would ban same-sex marriage. He also worked with Minnesotans United for All Families to help defeat the measure. But that doesn't mean he supports legalizing gay marriage.

Kelly said he opposed the amendment two years ago because it meant government would be getting involved in the issue of marriage. He said trying to legalize same-sex marriage amounts to the same thing.

"Just because the language has changed to the reverse, I think I would be extremely hypocritical if I decided now is a good time for the government to get involved. I don't believe that we should be defining marriage. I will stay that course," Kelly said in an interview.

DFL lawmakers unveiled legislation on Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage at a Capitol news conference.

Kelly said he believes gay marriage supporters are misinterpreting the results of last fall's election. Just because voters rejected the marriage amendment does not mean they back gay marriage.

"I really do think (gay marriage supporters) are making an error in judgement there, and they are being overzealous and overreaching and are missing an opportunity to really take care of the inequities and the discriminatory issues that I have been approached with every year since I've been here," he said.

The Red Wing lawmaker said he plans to introduce a bill this session aimed at getting rid of some of those legal inequities. He also said he is willing to discuss the idea of civil unions for gay couples, but that once the debate becomes about marriage it becomes highly emotional.

"I don't think we need much more data to prove out that as soon as we use the term marriage that time and money spent defending both sides to the nth degree," he said.

Fairgoers polled oppose same-sex marriage amendment

State fairgoers who weighed in on a Minnesota House of Representatives' poll overwhelmingly opposed a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Of the 12,549 people polled, 66.5 percent opposed the amendment, which would define marriage as between one man and one woman. Nearly 30 percent supported the amendment.

First, it's important to note that this poll is in no way scientific. But it is still interesting to see how people at the Great Minnesota Get-Together voted.

One item that might be of interest to Rochester city officials — the poll finds little support for allowing local governments to impose a tax without first getting legislative approval. Legislation passed during the special session will allow the city of Rochester to ask voters to approve a $139.5 million extension of the city's existing local option sales tax. But that approval did not come easily. Rochester had wanted authorization for a $160 million tax extension. Republicans in the GOP-led legislature — most notably House Tax Committee Chair Greg Davids — voiced opposition to a proposed sales tax extension that large. Supporters of the large amount argued it should be left up to local voters to decide whether to approve the higher tax amount — not state lawmakers.

According to the state fair poll, nearly 68 percent of respondents believe local governments should be required to get authorization from the legislature. Less than 26 percent believe they should be able to move ahead without getting lawmakers' OK.

Here are a couple of other interesting poll results:

— Fairgoers are not fans of extending the sales tax to clothing. Of those polled, more than 62 percent oppose the idea with nearly 31 percent supporting it. Nearly 7 percent were undecided.

— Support for requiring voters to show photo ID to cast a ballot has dropped. Of those polled, 50.8 percent believe showing ID should be a requirement to vote while 46.4 percent do not. In 2010, more than 69 percent of voters supported requiring photo ID to vote.

— Minnesotans polled also support banning the use of cellular phones while driving — except in the case of emergencies. More than 62 percent support a ban while more than 32 percent oppose it. Roughly 5 percent were undecided.

Go here to see all the poll results.

Outrage erupts over pastor's prayer in the House

As opponents of a same-sex marriage ban chanted outside the chamber, a pastor who has made statements about jailing gays led the Minnesota House in the daily prayer.

Bradlee Dean with Old Path Church in Minneapolis violated the House Chamber's long-standing policy that the prayer be nondenominational. He also took a swipe at President Obama implying he is not a Christian.

"It's not about the Baptists. It's not about the Catholics alone or the Lutherans or the Wesleyians or the Presbyterians, evangelicals or any other denomination but rather the head of the denomination, and his name is Jesus as every president up until 2008 has acknowledged," Dean said.

You can watch the video here.

According to the Minnesota Independent, Dean has made statements in support of jailing gays and also said that Muslim nations who execute gays are more moral than American Christians.

Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, said it was "the most divisive prayer I have ever heard in the chamber."

She said she tried to catch Dean to tell him that herself, but he had already left the floor. Beyond that, Liebling said she cannot believe Dean was allowed to speak on a day when the House could potentially be voting on a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

"Here is a person who is the most hateful person you could find giving the so-called prayer on this day of all days is beyond the pale," she said.

House GOP leadership quickly realized they had a problem. They started the session over again with the House chaplain offering the prayer and then did the Pledge of Allegiance again and the roll call. Liebling said she appreciated that Republicans did start over.

In a statement, Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers apologized for the incident and denounced Dean.

"I respectfully apologize to all members in the Minnesota House of Representatives and all citizens of this state for today’s morning prayer. As Speaker of the House, I take responsibility for this mistake. I am offended at the presence of Bradlee Dean on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives. I denounce him, his actions and his words. He does not represent my values or the values of this state."

 

Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage surfaces at Capitol

A group of House and Senate Republican lawmakers announced Tuesday they are introducing a constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage. If passed, the measure would go to the voters in November 2012.

One of the bill sponsors, Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said they want Minnesotans to have plenty of time to consider the amendment, which would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

"Allowing a number of politicians or heaven forbid activists judges to define marriage to us would simply not be acceptable," Limmer said.

Democrats blasted Republicans for pushing a divisive social issue at a time when they say the GOP's focus needs to be on solving the state's $5 billion budget deficit by the May 23 deadline.

"This does nothing to set our economy on the right track and in fact.there is evidence that shows that those places that do not embrace diversity, that don't embrace all people and the kinds of contributions they make, don't do as well economically," said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis.

Republicans said they expect there will be legislative hearings this week on the proposal. The legislature has a self-imposed deadline of Friday to pass policy-related bills through key committees. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday reiterated his oppose to a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. He also added that the state law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

"Denying future generations from making their own reasoned decisions about what they think is appropriate is a big mistake," Dayton said. But in the end the governor has no say on what happens with the bill. Proposed constitutional amendments do not need the governor's signature before heading to the voters.

Gay marriage opponents to rally in Rochester

The National Organization for Marriage will sponsor a rally tomorrow in Rochester as part of its "Summer for Marriage, One Man — One Woman Tour." This is one stop on a 23 city, 19 state tour to show support for banning gay marriage.

The rally will be from noon to 1 p.m. at New Life Worship Center, 6301 34th Ave. N.W. in Rochester. The event is open to the public.