Marriage Initiative Way Short of Signatures As Deadline Looms
The organization sponsoring an amendment to ban same-sex marriage remains well short of the 611,009 signatures needed to put measures to a vote in a statewide referendum.
Supporters of the amendment to prohibit same-sex marriages remain short of the required signatures, said John Stemberger, the chairman of Florida4marriage.org, which is sponsoring the measure. Dubbed the " Florida Marriage Protection Amendment," the proposal would also ban civil unions that offer identical rights and benefits as marriage.
Supporters say the amendment is necessary in case a court strikes down an existing state law that already bars gay marriage. But opponents warn that it could cut off other rights for gay couples, such as health-care benefits.
Stemberger estimated his group has collected between 200,000 and 250,000 signatures so far. But he also said the total is growing by tens of thousands of signatures each day.
Backers have also ramped up their efforts, he said, making frequent appearances on local talk-radio shows and sending word to churches that they have only three Sundays remaining to gather petitions.
"It's a tough goal," Stemberger said. "But it's a goal that we think we're going to be able to make."
Collecting the necessary signatures does not guarantee any amendment will appear on the ballot.
Each must still survive scrutiny from the state Supreme Court, which evaluates proposed amendments to ensure that they are limited to a single subject and that the ballot summaries are clear and accurate. Those hearings begin next month.
-From the Sun Sentinel, January 6, 2006
Supporters of the amendment to prohibit same-sex marriages remain short of the required signatures, said John Stemberger, the chairman of Florida4marriage.org, which is sponsoring the measure. Dubbed the " Florida Marriage Protection Amendment," the proposal would also ban civil unions that offer identical rights and benefits as marriage.
Supporters say the amendment is necessary in case a court strikes down an existing state law that already bars gay marriage. But opponents warn that it could cut off other rights for gay couples, such as health-care benefits.
Stemberger estimated his group has collected between 200,000 and 250,000 signatures so far. But he also said the total is growing by tens of thousands of signatures each day.
Backers have also ramped up their efforts, he said, making frequent appearances on local talk-radio shows and sending word to churches that they have only three Sundays remaining to gather petitions.
"It's a tough goal," Stemberger said. "But it's a goal that we think we're going to be able to make."
Collecting the necessary signatures does not guarantee any amendment will appear on the ballot.
Each must still survive scrutiny from the state Supreme Court, which evaluates proposed amendments to ensure that they are limited to a single subject and that the ballot summaries are clear and accurate. Those hearings begin next month.
-From the Sun Sentinel, January 6, 2006
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