by Natalie J. Mikhail

State Editor

Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed legislation Friday that defined marriage in Wisconsin as a union between “one man and one woman.”

AB 475 passed the Republican-led state Senate Thursday to “clarify” Wisconsin marriages to be not only between “a husband and wife”, as currently defined, but between two people of opposing sexes. Backers of the bill insisted the change was needed to ensure Wisconsin would not be compelled to recognize same-sex marriages that are legal elsewhere. Legislators rushed the bill to Doyle’s desk.

“This bill is just another example of the Legislature focusing its time and energy on divisive, mean-spirited bills that do nothing to grow Wisconsin’s economy, make health care more affordable and accessible, or improve our public schools,” Doyle said. “I have made it clear since the beginning of this debate that AB 475 is redundant and unnecessary.”

American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ahmuty praised Doyle’s decision, also calling the bill “a mean-spirited and legally flawed” attempt to outlaw same-sex marriages.

“Proponents of this legislation have tried to capitalize on the confusion between the religious institution of marriage and state sanctioned civil marriage contracts,” Ahmuty said. “The law does not recognize same gender marriages entered into in Wisconsin and could never force religious institutions to recognize such marriages. AB 475 is unnecessary to protect existing and future marriages between a man and a woman.”

However, supporters of the bill argue that Doyle’s decision ignores the wishes of Wisconsin residents.

“Once again, Gov. Doyle has stubbornly refused to listen to the majority of Wisconsin citizens by vetoing a bill that would clarify state law to protect the sanctity of marriage,” Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Rick Graber said. “AB 475 received strong support in both houses of the Legislature from Republican and Democrat lawmakers, acting at the behest of the citizens they represent.”

Senate majority leader Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, also criticized Doyle’s decision and defended the Legislature’s efforts to focus on issues like the marriage bill.

“A majority of citizens in this state have asked that the statutes defining marriage be clarified. Some of us think that it’s important to listen to the people who elected them,” Panzer said.

Doyle also urged the legislature to focus on job creation and economic development instead of being distracted by “political games and divisive partisan fights” during the last week they are in session before adjourning for the holidays.

Panzer said that Senate Republicans created the Select Committee on Job Creation to address this issue of joblessness and have been working since the summer to pass legislation to reform unnecessary regulatory burdens business, to improve capital investment in Wisconsin and provide meaningful job training legislation.

“It would be nice if the Governor would stop flying around the state talking about creating jobs and stay in Madison long enough to work with the Legislature to really get the job done,” Panzer added.

The marriage bill produced some of the most heated debates of this legislative session; however, both houses approved the measure by wide margins — 68 to 29 in the Assembly and 22 to 10 in the Senate.

A two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature — 22 votes in the Senate and 66 in the Assembly — is required to override the governor’s veto.