Maple Grove Senator Votes Against Same-Sex Marriage Bill

State Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) was one of three "no" votes on a same-sex marriage bill during a Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Tuesday. Five senators voted "yes," however, which moved the bill to the full Senate. (Click on YouTube from The UpTake to see her comments, or watch them at YouTube.com.)

The Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate File 925, a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples, on a party-line 5-3 vote Tuesday afternoon.

To watch video of the committee's discussion and vote on the bill, click on the video at the top of this post or watch it at the UpTake's Livestream webpage.

A highlight of the debate was extended back-and-forth between opponent Limmer and .

Limmer said:

I think there's a fear on the part of a number of people, a concern, that passage of same-sex marriage may turn into a run on other policies in the state that they can't believe in. And I think if we follow the example of other states, I think they probably have a rightful concern regarding that.

Sen. Dan Hall (R-Burnsville) spoke against the bill, saying he was a nice guy—not a "bigot" as some have called him—but, he said, he has an opinion.

Sen. Ron Latz, a DFLer who represents Hopkins, St. Louis Park and Plymouth, chairs the committee.

Also voting against the bill was Sen. Julianne Ortmann, a Republican whose district includes Chaska and Chanhassen.

Also voting in favor were DFLers Richard Cohen of St. Paul, Kathy Sheran of Mankato, and Kari Dziedzic of Minneapolis.

Limmer told KARE 11 he wonders how rural Democrats in the Legislature will vote.

"New Democrats and representatives are going to have to make a decision," he said. "Are they going to believe and follow representative government or are they going to advance their own issue base on some political boss down here (in St. Paul)?"

Last week Limmer told members of Minnesota for Marriage, "... We have to understand that we are fighting for our children and our culture and our way of life."

Tuesday night the Civil Law Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 10-7 for a companion bill, according to a news release from Minnesotans United.