Gay marriage amendment falls through

Democrats said the gay-marriage vote, which fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage, was an attempt to muster conservative support before the November Congressional elections and divert public attention from more pressing issues like the Iraq war.

Republicans say the House of Representatives will take up the marriage amendment in July even though they do not expect it to get the two-thirds majority that a constitutional amendment requires for passage, so the House vote will be mostly symbolic.

The bill8217;s sponsor, Republican Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado, said judges would override what is in many states overwhelming public sentiment against gay marriage if the Senate did not act.