Gov. Dayton Sends Hard Message to Senate, House in Vetoing of Gay Marriage Bill

Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed Chapter 88, SF 1308, an act proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution recognizing marriage as only a union between one man and one woman.  The proposed amendment was sent to Dayton as a bill, and under the Constitution, the governor has the right to sign or veto any bill that is sent to him. Dayton vetoed the bill Tuesday, acknowledging that his veto "will not stop the amendment from being placed on the ballot." 

Dayton held a news conference this morning to discuss his action, and was joined by Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon, Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis), and Representative Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis).

In his letter to the Senate, Dayton called the bill "mean-spirited," and said the legislation was "un-Minnesotan." He quoted the 14th amendment of the constitution, which prohibits states from creating laws that "abridge" the freedoms of man. 

"Of course," Dayton stated, "[our founding fathers] overlooked women, African-Americans and others in the application of those equal rights. The path of social progress has been to include everyone fully and equally."  
  
Attached is a copy of the letter from the Revisor of Statutes, explaining why the proposed amendment was sent to the Governor, and a copy of the veto letter from Governor Dayton.

Sen. Amy Koch and Rep. Joe McDonald, who represent the St. Michael and Albertville areas in their respective branches of government, each voted in favor of the amendments. 

Dayton said he believes the amendment will fail: "People want to be families, people want to share the American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the way their creator created them."

Dayton and Dibble held a press conference Wednesday on the announced veto.

Watch the entire press conference at TheUptake.