From: Facessd@aol.com Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 19:39:33 -0500 Subject: Senate Committee Defers Anti-marriage Bill in South Dakota FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE House Bill 1143 has failed in its second committee of the South Dakota Legislature. The Senate Judiciary Committee today deferred House Bill 1143 that would change current law to read that marriage is only for "a man and a woman." Proponants hoped this bill would ban the marriages of same-sex partners that might come to the mainland from Hawaii. The vote was 4-2 to defer the bill to the 36th day of the legislative session. There are only 35 days in the session. The move effectively killed the bill unless the full Senate "smokes-out" the bill and puts it back on the Senate floor. Senator Fred Whiting, R-Rapid City, chastised Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon, for writing a bill that hides its real purpose and doesn't exactly state what is intended. He told Hunt that he didn't think the bill would accomplish the task that was hoped for by proponants since South Dakota law recognizes marriages from other states. Whiting called the bill misleading for proponants. Several Senators commented on the large amount of mail they had received from both sides of this bill. Proponants are likely to win the "smoke-out" vote as they did in the House. However, the Senate is more likely to carefully consider the issue as it did a similar bill the previous year. Last year in the South Dakota Senate, an outright ban on same-sex marriages failed by one vote to be scheduled on the Senate calendar. Gay community leaders in South Dakota hailed today's deferring vote as a positive step. Sioux Falls Metropolitan Community Church pastor Don Reusch said he expected the Senate to do what it did last year, "It'll probably get smoked out of committee and get voted down by the Senate." -30- Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. Barry Wick, Executive Director 13121 South Creekview Road Rapid City, South Dakota 57702-8503 Phone 605-343-5577 FAX 605-394-8962 email: Facessd@aol.com http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/south_dakota/FACES