June 7, 2006

ENSIGN VOTES YES ON MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Washington, D.C. – Senator John Ensign voted today in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment. The Federal Marriage Amendment amends the Constitution to uphold the current and historical view of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

“Majorities across our nation have voted to maintain the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, and unelected judges are ignoring the will of the people,” Ensign said. “In state after state, the American people have voted to uphold the historical definition of marriage, and we should not sit by while the voice of the people is taken away by activist judges.”

Nevada’s marriage amendment was approved by voters on two separate occasions and passed by nearly 70% each time. Today 45 of the 50 states have either a state constitutional amendment or statute defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Four state courts have ruled against the voters and the laws in nine more states are currently being challenged.

“It is important that we uphold the checks and balances that have withstood the test of time,” Ensign said. “Our legislative branch writes the laws, not the judicial branch. We must work to ensure that the will of the people is upheld through their elected representatives and not by unelected judges.”

An amendment to the Constitution must be approved by two-thirds of the House and the Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures. The amendment failed by a vote of 49-48 in the Senate today.

Communications Director Rebecca Fisher 119 Russell Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Tel: (202) 224-6244

Nevada Press Secretary Sari Mann 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Tel: (702) 388-6605