Gay-Marriage Bill to Be Blocked in U.S. Senate, Daschle Says


July 13 (Bloomberg) -- Democrats will prevent a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage from coming to a vote in the U.S. Senate, Minority Leader Tom Daschle said.

Republican backers of the measure need 60 senators to agree to end debate Wednesday and move to a final vote. The amendment would define marriage as between a man and a woman and prevent courts from ordering states to allow civil unions, which confer the rights of marriage. Republicans control the Senate by a 51-49 margin.

``There is no question they will fall short,'' Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, told reporters in Washington. Daschle, who opposes gay marriage, said that an amendment isn't necessary and that the matter should be left to the states.

Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee said the Senate has a duty to debate the issue. Frist brought the measure to the floor this week, two weeks before the Democratic National Convention and four months before the presidential election. President George W. Bush this week urged approval of the amendment to protect ``traditional'' marriage.