News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senate Approves Marriage Amendment

Resolution Gives Alaska Voters the Final Say

For Immediate Release: April 16, 1998 Contact: Mike Pauley, Assistant to Senator Loren Leman, at (907) 465-3871.

Juneau – The Senate today voted 14 to 6 to approve Senate Joint Resolution 42, a proposed constitutional amendment that will allow Alaska voters to reaffirm and protect the existing definition of marriage.

"Today the Senate voted to take this decision out of the hands of an unelected judge, and put it in the hands of the people, where it belongs," commented Senator Loren Leman (R-Anchorage), Vice-Chairman of the Senate HESS Committee that sponsored SJR 42. "Polls show that 70 percent of Alaskans prefer to keep the existing definition of marriage and they deserve to be heard on this."

The resolution was prompted by the February 27 ruling of Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski, who declared that the state constitution’s right to privacy creates a right for homosexuals to have their unions receive public recognition. Judge Michalski’s legal conclusions are unprecedented in the history of Western jurisprudence.

Senator Leman said that the meaning of marriage is fundamentally rooted in natural law and tradition, and should not be subject to judicial tinkering: "I submit that Judge Michalski is attempting to redefine something that is impervious to redefinition. We can no more redefine marriage than we can redefine gender. I accept that reality. Judge Michalski does not. That is why this issue is before us – and Alaska voters should have the right to decide this important issue."

After a possible reconsideration vote on April 17, SJR 42 will be transmitted to the House for further consideration.

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= Loren Leman, 32 K