Wednesday, March 13 2013 12:03 AM EDT2013-03-13 04:03:37 GMT
Just a year after Minnesota lawmakers were debating plans to ban same-sex marriage, debate began anew Tuesday at the Capitol as both chambers took up a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
Just a year after Minnesota lawmakers were debating plans to ban same-sex marriage, debate began anew Tuesday at the Capitol as both chambers took up a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.
ST. PAUL, Minn. -
Just one day after clearing committees in both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature, the bill to legally recognize same-sex unions in Minnesota narrowly survived several attempts by Senate Republicans to block it.
Majority Democrats defeated Republican motions on Wednesday to stall the bill's progress during a Senate floor session and in a Rules Committee meeting.
Republicans say they want more information about whether it would cost tax money to allow gay couples to marry, either in court costs or state employee benefits.
The bill's backers say any costs would be tough to estimate and not very high.
Four rural Democratic senators sided with the GOP. One Republican who co-authored the Senate bill, Sen. Branden Petersen, sided with Democrats. That was enough to keep the bill alive.
The Senate Judiciary Committee and House Civil Law Committee approved the gay marriage bill on Tuesday, but full votes are not expected in either chamber until later this spring.
Balance of power in the Minnesota Senate
