No coercion indeed? CAP Reaction to Vote: By Mark R. Kerr

For those who may have an inkling and believed Arizona Senate President Tim Bee's remarks criticize the Center for Arizona Policy, consider the following press release from the group:

PHOENIX – Today (June 27), the Arizona Senate joined the Arizona House of Representatives in voting to refer a state constitutional amendment on the definition of marriage to the November ballot. The Senate’s action places the following proposed constitutional amendment before the voters:

“Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

“This is a great day for the people of Arizona,” said Cathi Herrod, president of The Center for Arizona Policy. “The people of Arizona will be able to decide the future of marriage in Arizona, not judges as we have witnessed in California.”

“The situation in California demonstrates that Arizona’s current marriage laws are not enough. There’s nothing to stop a future court or legislature from redefining marriage. This amendment eliminates the uncertainty. The future of marriage in Arizona shouldn’t be left to the courts or the politicians; it should be left to the people,” Herrod said.

“I thank and commend Senate President Tim Bee and House Speaker Jim Weiers for their leadership, as well as the senators and representatives who recognized the importance of marriage for all Arizonans and voted to give the people the opportunity to place the time-honored institution of marriage beyond the reach of the courts.”