IN Legislature Passes Amendment But Loses Battle | The Bilerico Project

As expected, Indiana's HJR-3 passed in the legislature, but will not be voted on. So in essence, this skirmish is over. Only problem, I'm still trying to figure it all out.

As mentioned in a prior posting, the debacle surrounding HJR-3 started 10 years ago. Something to which I'm still baffled by as that is a lot of bullshitting. But that aside, this article explains what HJR-3 opponents had to do to lose,,,
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Indiana law says that any amendment to the state constitution has to pass through two separately elected assemblies with the exact same language both times. If the legislators had passed the amendment as was written when it passed in 2011, it would have gone to the ballot later this fall.

Instead, opponents convinced enough legislators that the second sentence of the proposed amendment, which would also ban civil unions and domestic partnerships, was a step too far. Polling showed that while numbers were close if the amendment went to the ballot, if it also outlawed all other forms of relationship recognition voters opposed it. Corporations, universities, and business groups lined up to tout how the second half could affect them.

Freedom Indiana, the campaign built to fight the amendment, was led by a sharp Republican campaigner and with the backing of most Democrats already in their pocket, they started targeting moderate Republicans. One by one they changed former supporters minds.

Some of the Republicans switched sides entirely, voting no to the amendment as a whole. Others though, were able to ride the fence on the amendment; they would announce their support for "traditional marriage" but also express concern over the second sentence.

In the end, there were enough votes in the House of Representatives to change the amendment by dropping the back half. It still passed, but with only the first sentence. After the state senate passed that version this week, it was official. There would be no vote on marriage equality in 2014 - when there was a chance the amendment could pass.

If supporters want to continue the fight for the amendment, they'll have to convince a separately elected assembly to revisit the topic. If they do, legislators could bring it back up in 2015 or 2016, pass it like currently reads, and put it on the ballot in 2016. Or, with momentum clearly on the side of marriage equality supporters, the bill could be voted down

IN Legislature Passes Amendment But Loses Battle | The Bilerico Project

Indiana lawmakers delay putting same-sex marriage ban on the ballot until 2016 | The Raw Story

You would think that after 10 years of dialogue and arguing over this issue they would just give it up already. What is troubling, besides the obvious, is that this resolution appears to go against the "will of the people" as polls have 56% of the Indiana populace against this measure but yet the Governor himself is pushing the issue to protect his 2016 re-election chances:

Supporters, including Gov. Mike Pence, wanted lawmakers to approve that version for the required second time so that it could go to voters for a final vote during the November general election.

But because the House removed the portion of the amendment banning civil unions — and because the Senate didn't restore that provision — the measure, known as House Joint Resolution 3, must now get approval from a future General Assembly before going to voters.

That could pose problems for supporters.

Public attitudes are rapidly shifting away from such bans and Pence has said he wanted it passed this year rather than in 2016. That's when, presumably, he would be running for re-election.

A vote by Indiana residents on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage was delayed by at least two years on Thursday after the state’s Senate declined to restore language that would have put the amendment on track for the 2014 ballot.

Postponing a public vote on the measure was seen as a victory for gay rights activists.

“Today’s action is a welcome step back from the brink, ensuring that Indiana’s families will not be subjected to a harsh campaign that would add cruel and unconstitutional language to Indiana’s state constitution this November,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, a national group that favors gay marriage rights.

The Indiana House had voted in January to advance the gay marriage ban amendment, but softened it by removing language that would have banned gay civil unions. The sentence they cut said: “A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

The Senate is expected to take a final vote on the proposed amendment as early as Monday.

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Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated legislature had approved the proposed amendment with the civil unions ban in 2011 and had to approve it again in the same form in this session to put it to a popular vote in 2014. The proposed amendment has been debated by Indiana lawmakers since 2004.

Indiana lawmakers delay putting same-sex marriage ban on the ballot until 2016 | The Raw Story

See also:  
HJR-3: where the proposal stands which lays out a decent "timeline" of how the resolution has progressed up to this point.

Breaking: GOP-Led Indiana House Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Bill | The New Civil Rights Movement

UPDATE:::The Republican-led Indiana House passed HJR3 by a vote of 57-40, and now moves to the Indiana Senate.

Breaking: GOP-Led Indiana House Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Bill | The New Civil Rights Movement

Andy Markle - Today is a day that will never be forgotten in the...

The GOP and Indiana lose another member:

"It deeply saddens me to see the state that I have called home for the past 8 years plunge into a debate over a minority group's civil rights.

"It is with a heavy heart but with a clear conscience that I announce the end of my run for Indiana State House of Representatives, District 99, as a Republican. With today's announcement by House Speaker Brian Bosma, that he is using extraordinary and unprecedented rules to change House Joint Resolution 3's committee assignment, I have no choice but to resign my candidacy as a Republican."

This comes two weeks after Jimmy LaSalvia of GOProud announced his leaving the GOP.


Markle's announcement is coupled to Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R) movement concerning HJR 3, an anti-marriage equality bill being foisted on the people of Indiana.

Andy Markle - Today is a day that will never be forgotten in the...

Indiana GOP Leader Moves Failing Marriage Equality Ban To More Conservative Committee (UPDATE)

WASHINGTON -- With a proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on life support, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R) suddenly gave it new life Tuesday, moving the legislation from the skeptical committee that was reviewing it to a friendlier, more conservative panel that is likely to vote it through to the full chamber.

"I responded to the overwhelming majority of the Republican caucus who have extensively lobbied me to bring this to the floor in one fashion or another," Bosma told the Indianapolis Star.

Marriage equality is already illegal in Indiana. But HJR-3 would make the ban more permanent by amending the state constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Once it passes out of the House, it would need to clear the Senate before the public votes on it as a ballot measure.

Bosma's move took opponents of the ban by surprise. The bill was on track to receive a vote in the state House Judiciary Committee, which would normally review such legislation. But when three Republican members expressed reservations about the language in the amendment, Bosma decided to instead move it to the House Elections and Apportionment Committee, which crafts election law. It's scheduled to receive a vote Wednesday afternoon.

"I strongly suspect that the move to the Elections Committee was done to ensure that the legislation would be approved and sent on to the full House," said House Democrats spokesman John Schorg.

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UPDATE: 10 p.m. -- After hours of testimony Wednesday afternoon, the elections committee voted 9-3, along party lines, to advance HJR-3. (One Democratic representative was out because his child was ill.) It now heads to the full House, where it may get a vote next week.

Indiana GOP Leader Moves Failing Marriage Equality Ban To More Conservative Committee (UPDATE)