Minnesota House Civil Law Committee Advances Marriage Equality

As expected, the Minnesota House Civil Law Committee advanced marriage equality legislation tonight with a vote of 10–7, reflecting today’s similar vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill now advances to the full House, but as in the Senate, its potential for passage there is not yet known. Still, that the bill would advance to the floor of both chambers just months after the state defeated a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage speaks to incredible progress in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. As was mentioned during the discussion this evening, Republicans thought it was more important to ban same-sex marriage than even pass a state budget, and the expediency of this equality legislation speaks to a much greater attention to the welfare of all Minnesotans. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has committed to passing a budget before allowing a floor vote on marriage.