Kansas house rejects gay marriage ban

A proposed constitutional amendment declaring that Kansas recognizes marriage as only between one man and one woman failed Tuesday to win enough support in the state house of representatives to submit it to voters. The vote was 79-45, five votes fewer than the two-thirds majority needed to approve a proposed change in the Kansas constitution. The senate adopted the proposal Saturday on a 27-13 vote. The proposal would have also denied legal benefits associated with marriage to other domestic arrangements, such as civil unions. In March, the house adopted a similar proposal on an 88-36 vote, but supporters and proponents said some members had reconsidered their positions before Tuesday's vote.