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Gay-marriage ban gets support of both parties, majority of Wisconsinites

Having spawned countless protests, an all-night filibuster in the Wisconsin State Assembly and a statement from the Madison City Council, the proposed state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman would seem to be one of the most divisive issues in the state during this election year. Just how divisive it is, however, remains open for debate.

Steve Baas, press secretary for Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, says the issue is not nearly as polarizing as many make it seem.

“The fact is that it isn’t a divisive issue, because this amendment had strong bipartisan support not only in the Legislature, but in the general public,” Baas said, alluding to polls indicating a majority of Wisconsin residents are in favor of the amendment.

In a recent Badger Poll, 64 percent of Wisconsinites said they favored a state constitutional ban on gay marriage while 29 percent opposed such an action.

Baas further highlighted the fact the amendment garnered bipartisan support from more than two-thirds of the state Legislature.

Julie Laundrie, spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, disagreed and said legislators are ignoring long-term policy decisions in favor of “bumper-sticker politics” by addressing the issue of gay marriage.

“I think it’s hard to argue that it is good public policy to support something so divisive and hurtful to so many people,” Laundrie said.

Also open for debate is how constituent pressure played a role in the amendment’s passage in the Legislature. Despite polls showing majority support for the measure, UW political science professor Dennis Dresang believes public opinion held little weight in its introduction.

“This amendment is very consistent with the rightwing agenda that the legislative leaders have pursued, and it was going to happen no matter what,” Dresang said.

To underscore his belief in the inevitability of the amendment, Dresang pointed to the Legislature’s attempt in February to allow citizens the right to carry concealed weapons. Polls showed the bill was not supported by the majority of Wisconsin residents, but it nonetheless passed through both houses before Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto ultimately prevented it from becoming law.

Baas emphasized that constituent opinion played a strong role in Gard’s support for the amendment. However, he acknowledged that gay activists and court decisions in Massachusetts ultimately forced the Legislature’s hand.

“The question was not whether it would be addressed, but whether it would be done before the Legislature, in an open forum accountable to the public, or before a judge behind closed doors,” Baas said.

Supporters of the bill point to the polls to indicate they are listening to the public, but Dresang questions how much legislators stand to gain from supporting the amendment.

“Some politicians did worry that they may suffer politically (for not supporting the amendment), but there’s no evidence to suggest that,” Dresang said. “The truth is, it is a very divisive issue, so it’s not clear how much each side will gain.”