Same-sex marriage foe vows to renew push for amendment
Policast for Feb. 26, 2013:
In a week where a bill legalizing same-sex marriage is expected to be introduced at the state Capitol, National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown said GOP lawmakers who support it will face electoral repercussions.
"We are committing a half a million dollars to the effort to support Democrats who support traditional marriage and to oppose Republicans who betray principle and their constituents," Brown said on MPR's Policast on Tuesday.
Brown said NOM's effort is a reaction to "big-money lobbyists" supporting same-sex marriage who have been "promising financial support and also threatening" Republican lawmakers across the country.
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Republican leaders in both the state Senate and House have said they won't take any action against lawmakers who vote in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. Sen. Branden Petersen, R- Andover, has said he'll likely support a bill when it's introduced.
Brown said his group wants Petersen's constituents to know the stance he's taken.
"All we're doing is making sure that those constituents know what Mr. Petersen and others have done," Brown said. "And if he chooses to support same-sex marriage, I'm very confident, given that his constituents actually did support the marriage amendment, that he won't be re-elected."
NOM spent about $2 million trying to pass a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between one man and one woman in Minnesota. Voters rejected the amendment in November.
Overall more than $18 million was spent on the amendment campaign. Opponents spent more than $12 million while supporters spent about half that.
"The campaign was won by simply telling lies," Brown said. "One of the lies was that there was no threat of same-sex marriage, that's now coming home to roost."
Brown said his group supports another push for a constitutional amendment defining marriage in Minnesota.
"Clearly, Minnesota needs a constitutional amendment. The reality is that without it, judges could redefine marriage," Brown said. "In Minnesota, unfortunately, the amendment did not pass. But you still need an amendment; we will still push for it."
On Wednesday's Policast, we'll hear from a supporter of legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.
Policast is a daily roundup of Minnesota political news. The entire interview with National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown can be heard in the Tuesday, Feb. 26 episode.