Legal, civil rights arguments fuel Congress' gay marriage debate
LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, March 3, 2004

(03-03) 14:35 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
Determined to stop gay marriages, Republican senators said Wednesday they will move later this month to consider several versions of a constitutional amendment to block the same-sex unions.
But opponents on both sides of the political aisle said supporters fall far short of the votes needed in the House and Senate to amend the constitution. And any attempt to do so, said Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., is a "divisive political exercise" aimed at influencing this year's election.