With over 70 percent of voters supporting traditional marriage, state senators are moving forward on legislation to put a marriage amendment to a vote.
-- From "Marriage amendment making inroads in W. Virginia" by Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow 2/24/2010
Under the West Virginia constitution, an amendment must first be passed by the legislature before it can be placed before the state's voters. SJR 14 simply states: "Only a union between man and woman is valid or recognized as marriage in West Virginia."
It will take a super-majority vote in both houses -- or 60 percent -- to put the issue on a future ballot.
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From "Gay-marriage ban fails in House" by Alison Knezevich, Staff writer, Charleston Gazette 2/23/10
Democrats in the House of Delegates on Tuesday swiftly shot down Republican attempts to advance a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
GOP delegates unsuccessfully tried to force a floor vote on a bipartisan resolution (HJR5) called the "Marriage Protection Amendment." The proposal calls for a statewide referendum on whether to amend West Virginia's constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Republicans also tried to force a vote on the marriage amendment last year, but Democrats blocked the move.
Half of the six of sponsors of this year's "Marriage Protection Amendment" are Democrats, but many Democrats likely do not want to vote on the controversial issue.
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