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Waterman: Marriage amendment passes Senate Committee

State Senator John Waterman

      200 West Washington Street – Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE                                                             01.24.07

 

Contact: Carrie Zapfe (317) 232-7184

czapfe@iga.state.in.us

                                                                                                               

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        

Marriage amendment resolution passes Senate Committee

Legislation declares marriage as between ‘one man and one woman’

 

     (STATEHOUSE) – For the third time in three years, an Indiana Senate committee passed Senate Joint Resolution No. 7 which would amend the Indiana Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the resolution today.

 

     Sen. John Waterman (R-Shelburn), supports the resolution, which passed by a vote of 5-4, with all Republicans voting in favor of SJR 7 and all Democrats against. The resolution now progresses to the full Senate for further consideration.

 

     “Traditional marriage should be protected and Hoosiers should have the right to vote on this amendment,” Waterman said. “Once again it appears this resolution will be stopped by Democrats in the House of Representatives, and that just isn’t right.”

 

     In 2005, the Indiana General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution, which officially declares that marriage in Indiana is defined as being between one man and one woman. In order for the resolution to become part of the state constitution, it must pass two separately elected sessions of the General Assembly and then be approved by a majority of voters statewide. If the resolution is not approved by both chambers of the legislature this year, the process must begin again next year and the earliest the issue could be placed before Hoosier voters is 2012.

 

          Nationwide, 27 states have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage. According to the resolution’s author, Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield), today’s vote was the tenth time this issue has been dealt with by the Indiana Senate either in committee or on the floor.

 

        Waterman serves Senate District 39, which includes Clay, Greene, Knox, Daviess, Owen, Sullivan and Vigo Counties.

 

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For your convenience, a high-resolution photo of Senator Waterman is available at: http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/newsroom/photo-gallery.htm