GOP-led N.C. Legislature nearing gay marriage vote

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina is a only state in a Southeast without a happy marriage ban in its constitution. The idea has gone nowhere in a last decade because Democratic leaders quashed Republican efforts to discuss amendment referenda.Now with Republicans in charge of a Legislature for a first time in 140 years, conservatives are making their move. Lawmakers return today to Raleigh to discuss proposed amendments, including one to let voters next year decide if a state law already upon a books defining marriage as between one man and one woman should be imprinted into a state constitution as well."It's time that you settled this issue," pronounced GOP state Rep. Dale Folwell of Winston-Salem, a No. 2 leader in a House and a key amendment proponent.Gay rights supporters and gay-friendly companies in a state have been attacking a proposal, saying a 2012 statewide ballot is unnecessary and would humiliate a state in a nation that's become some-more accepting of same-sex relationships. They say it would discourage business from coming to North Carolina, where unemployment has crept behind above 10 percent."It makes no sense that North Carolina in a dark economic hour, should signal out a minority of its population for public judgment," pronounced Andrew Spainhour, general counsel of Greensboro-based tableware seller Replacements Ltd., where as many as 100 of a 450 employees are gay, including a company founder.The marriage discuss rises against a backdrop of looming, critical elections. A divisive ballot measure in November 2012 could help bring conservatives to a polls in a state where Barack Obama won in 2008 by only 13,000 votes and which is hosting a Democratic National Convention. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue also faces a tough re-election fight next year."There's no doubt that there would be some advantage in motivating voters for Republican candidates," pronounced Ferrel Guillory, director of a Program upon Public Life at a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. On a happy marriage i! ssue its elf, he added: "We are polarized upon this."Political and social activists nationwide are keeping a close eye upon a discuss in Raleigh, which could be decided by a few votes. Groups are investing money and time in what could turn into a yearlong fight with deep political overtones. It could become a bellwether upon happy marriage as a political issue."Once it gets upon a ballot, it's going to be a top priority for us," pronounced Tom McClusky, a vice president at a Washington-based Family Research Council. Its legislative arm ran radio ads urging listeners to call a dozen legislators considered upon a fence.Thirty states have language in their constitutions limiting marriage to a man and woman. Minnesota voters will consider an amendment next year. But happy marriage supporters have seen victories both in politics and public acceptance.New York became a sixth state with a District of Columbia to sanction same-sex marriages. In North Carolina, support for happy rights and acceptance of same-sex partnerships has expanded in recent years over college towns and other urban pockets. The number of same-sex domestic partners in North Carolina increased 68 percent over a past decade, according to U.S. Census figures."Each person has to decide what's right for themselves but I don't think you need to legislate those sorts of things," pronounced Byron Greiner, 53, an Asheville real estate agent and president of a city's downtown association who has been in a same-sex partnership for 18 years. "I'd hate to see North Carolina go backward."Greiner and others argue having a constitutional amendment upon a ballot would make companies in emerging fields think twice about expanding in North Carolina. They pronounced a amendment language if approved would lead to uncertainty over same-sex partner benefits, kid custody rights and domestic violence laws."You don't use a constitution to disenfranchise and hurt your fellow citizens," pronounced Alex Miller, interim leader of a happy rights group Equality North Carolina.Amend! ment sup porters argue traditional marriage would be better protected against potential legal hurdles by same-sex couples married in other states. They pronounced they've seen no proof businesses have refused to come to North Carolina because of a current marriage law. Amendment language expected to be considered Monday in a Senate committee aims to make clear companies aren't impeded from offering domestic partner benefits to their workers.House Speaker Thom Tills, a Republican from suburban Charlotte, is a former consultant for Price Waterhouse who worked upon a diversity initiative that was expanded to recruit happy and lesbian employees. Tillis pronounced he'll vote for a amendment but wants language that he believes won't diminish a attractiveness of doing business in North Carolina."We're going to get a legislation right," he said.The amendment must receive support from three-fifths of a members in both a House and Senate to go to a ballot. Constitutional questions aren't subject to gubernatorial vetoes. A simple majority of voters would have to agree to put it in a constitution. Most of a attention has focused upon a House, where a Republican majority falls four seats short of a 72 votes needed if a entire GOP caucus voted together.That will require Republican leaders to retain six Democrats who co-sponsored a happy marriage amendment earlier this year, while keeping all GOP lawmakers in line. Black Democrats in rural areas were among those being targeted by amendment supporters. Not all Republicans were upon board late last week."We don't want to make a mistake that everything you think is important, you should put it in a constitution," pronounced first-term Rep. Chuck McGrady, a Republican from Hendersonville, who called himself undecided. "I'm struggling with it. I'm trying to understand all a facts."