Gay Marriage comes to Indiana?

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

****READER'S NOTE**** (6/25/2014): The first 5 pages of this topic were originally posted January/February 2014 during the state assembly's vote on a amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage. Towards the bottom of Page 5, gay marriage was legalized in a court ruling on June 25, 2014. This thread will be updated regarding any developments with Indiana and gay marriage. On June 28th, the 7th Circuit Court issued a stay after Attorney General Greg Zoeller appealed. 
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So, any time today now, the State House of Representatives will bring up the HJR3 up to vote.

The bill will amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Indiana currently has a law that defines marriage as such. To amend the state constitution, 2 sessions of the legislature must vote on it (the 2011 - 2012 session passed it), then Pence must sign it, and it will go to a referendum on November 4th.

Current polling shows 54% of Hoosiers oppose the ban, while splitting 45% - 45% on legalizing gay marriage. There is talk of the state House being divided over this vote



First attempt at a live-update thread, let's see how this goes.

EDIT: If it passes the legislature and goes to referendum, I'll keep this running.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Update: The House is ordering pizza, which means the day is still young. So check back this evening folks!



EDIT: Confirmation that the final House version will be considered today.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Update: The House is ordering pizza, which means the day is still young. So check back this evening folks!

Any information on the toppings?  And if so, is there any correlation between various toppings and SSM support?  Would you be able to make any maps?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

If it went to a referendum, it would probably lose the counties with Indianapolis, Gary, and Bloomington.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

If it went to a referendum, it would probably lose the counties with Indianapolis, Gary, and Bloomington.

I expect roughly every county that went to Obama in 2008 to oppose it, plus many more.

Republican counties(especially suburbs) voted for gay marriage in Washington & Maryland, while defeating the gay marriage ban in Minnesota in 2012.

I expect similar events to occur in Indiana if the referendum is a go in 2014.

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[Gass3268]

Current polling shows 54% of Hoosiers oppose the ban, while splitting 45% - 45% on legalizing gay marriage. There is talk of the state House being divided over this vote

Yeah, I've heard that there is a split among the Republicans. Some don't like the fact that civil unions are banned in this as well and think that could be a possible issue when it would come up to a vote in November, but they also realize with the rate things are going it probably won't have a lot of support if they have to wait another two sessions. Some interesting dynamics.   

[Likely Voter]

I don't understand the point. It is already illegal and an amendment won't protect the ban from federal courts where it is most likely to be challenged

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Current polling shows 54% of Hoosiers oppose the ban, while splitting 45% - 45% on legalizing gay marriage. There is talk of the state House being divided over this vote

Yeah, I've heard that there is a split among the Republicans. Some don't like the fact that civil unions are banned in this as well and think that could be a possible issue when it would come up to a vote in November, but they also realize with the rate things are going it probably won't have a lot of support if they have to wait another two sessions. Some interesting dynamics.   

This is the 2nd sentence of the bill: “A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

No one can say how this would affect  existing marriages, domestic partner benefits, human rights ordinances, legal contracts and benefits for unmarried couples.

If you go to Freedom Indiana's website, under "About" there is a long list of companies, mayors, and local government bodies opposing HJR3, including a good number of Republicans. Mitch Daniels also spoke out against it, I believe.

[badgate]

I think, the proponents of pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and sausage are safe bets in favor of SSM.
Any orderers of Veggie Pizza will probably also oppose the resolution.

Obviously many men insecure with their masculinity glorify consumption of meat as proof of virility, so it is possible the hardcore anti-SSM legislators will also partake in the pepperoni pizza, while calling for the Canadian bacon to "go back where it came from."

Those who would take up the sacred task of dutifully eating "supreme" pizza and insisting it is the best are likely in favor of the resolution.

[IceSpear]

I don't understand the point. It is already illegal and an amendment won't protect the ban from federal courts where it is most likely to be challenged

If you want to know the point, look at Westboro's logo.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Discussion of amendments to the bill has begun.....


If it is amended, the whole process must begin again (including the 2 session vote)


Correction: The above sentence may or may not be true. There is a possibility it could go on the ballot still, I'll check.

[RedSLC]

If it went to a referendum, it would probably lose the counties with Indianapolis, Gary, and Bloomington.

I could also see it underperforming republican numbers noticeably in the Chicago and Indianapolis 'burbs, which like the Twin Cities suburbs, probably have a significant number of moderate republicans who oppose this referendum.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

The Amendment to strike the 2nd sentence passes 52-43!



29 Dems and 23 Repubs voted to defeat it

[Gass3268]

The Amendment to strike the 2nd sentence passes 52-43!

Awesome!

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

The Amendment to strike the 2nd sentence passes 52-43!

Awesome!

But now the Amendment must pass the Senate. Lemme check the odds there.

EDIT - The house has 68 Republicans, 31 Democrats, 1 vacancy.

The Senate is even worse: 37 Republicans(74%!!!) to 13 Democrats

[Gass3268]

The Amendment to strike the 2nd sentence passes 52-43!

Awesome!

But now the Amendment must pass the Senate. Lemme check the odds there.

EDIT - The house has 68 Republicans, 31 Democrats, 1 vacancy.

The Senate is even worse: 37 Republicans(74%!!!) to 13 Democrats

But if they don't come to an agreement this session, then it can't get on the ballot, right?

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

The Amendment to strike the 2nd sentence passes 52-43!

Awesome!

But now the Amendment must pass the Senate. Lemme check the odds there.

EDIT - The house has 68 Republicans, 31 Democrats, 1 vacancy.

The Senate is even worse: 37 Republicans(74%!!!) to 13 Democrats

But if they don't come to an agreement this session, then it can't get on the ballot, right?

Correct.

Basically passing the amendment has wrecked the bill. If the Senate passes the amendment, the bill is different than the one passed in 2011, so it must be passed by the 2015 - 2016 legislature, and go on the 2016 ballot(a far less favorable climate).

I'm not sure what happenes if the Senate rejects the amendment though

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

So what was in the second sentence that was struck?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

So what was in the second sentence that was struck?

This is the 2nd sentence of the bill: “A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

How generous of them to not constitutionally ban domestic partnerships in 2014. How very generous.

I would have voted to keep the sentence in to poison pill the amendment.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I would have voted to keep the sentence in to poison pill the amendment.

The problem with poison pills is that you might end up swallowing them.  Considering that the change delays the referendum until at least 2016, which means it probably won't be held since the Supreme Court will have ruled by then in favor of same-sex marriage, the change is worth doing.

[Holmes]

This is the amendment JCL kept gloating about in every thread about same-sex marriage. Hoping for a meltdown.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

UPDATE - The House is debating the amended bill right now.


It's getting intense.

UPDATE - 2:19 CST, voting begins!

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

Crossing my fingers.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

The amended HJR3 has passed the House


Either way, it will not be on the 2014 ballot

[Hifly]

Shame Reps Stemler and Goodin weren't there to vote Aye.