Same-sex marriage ban advances
Lawmakers OK item for ballot, but hurdle remains
By Frank Phillips and Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff
January 3, 2007

A week after the state's highest court declared lawmakers had a duty to cast a vote, the Massachusetts Legislature yesterday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, pushing it over a critical hurdle to get onto the 2008 state ballot.

In a tense afternoon of nose-counting and backroom negotiations, the proposal received 62 votes, a dozen more than required, from the joint session of the House and Senate. The vote was gaveled through by Senate President Robert E. Travaglini, chairman of the constitutional convention, who ignored efforts by the House leadership for time to debate the issue and gain votes to defeat the measure. the rest