Indiana GOP to Ban Marriage?

An Indiana house committee Monday approved a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality by a vote of 8-4, advancing it to a vote by the full house.

According to the Associated Press, "An amendment banning gay marriage passed the General Assembly in 2005 when Republicans controlled the House and Senate, but constitutional amendments must go through two separate Legislatures before being put to a public vote. In 2006, Democrats won control of the House and the proposal never cleared that chamber."

Now Republicans control both chambers again. If the proposal were to pass the legislature this year, it would also need to pass again in 2013 or 2014 before appearing on the ballot, reports the AP. Monday's committee vote came along party lines, Republicans in favor, Democrats against, but some Democrats do support the measure. Marriage "is a foundational, fundamental issue," said Rep. Dave Cheatham, a Democrat who is one of the amendment's sponsors.