INDIANAPOLIS -- Democrats and Republicans in the House are at a standoff over a proposal that would amend the state constitution with a ban on gay marriage, and it is unclear when, or if, a truce will be reached.
Republicans say the sanctity of traditional marriage is at stake, and they are justified in trying a little-used procedure in hopes of forcing a vote on the proposal. Democrats who control the chamber say Republicans are trying to subvert the legislative process for political points.
The chances of such a GOP ''blast motion'' succeeding and bringing the shelved proposal to the floor seem doubtful, since at least two Democrats would have to break ranks and override the wishes of Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer.
Democrats control the chamber 51-49, and Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said he could not recall such a maneuver succeeding during his 34 years in the House.
But House Republicans said Bauer would not even assure them such a motion would be considered. So they refused to provide a quorum needed to conduct House business Monday, and Democrats adjourned the chamber until Wednesday.
Bauer accused Republicans of trying to drum up a campaign issue and subvert the legislative process over a proposal he said was not needed. Indiana already has a law banning gay marriage, and Bauer said there was no need to enflame a controversy he said was better left to other states.
''Why bring California and Massachusetts here when you don't have to?'' Bauer said. ''You don't have to create problems when they're not there.''
But Republicans noted that some same-sex couples have challenged Indiana's law in a case now before the Indiana Court of Appeals. They said whatever the ruling, it was sure to be appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court, and such an important issue should not be left for judges to decide.
House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said Bauer told him privately that he considered the GOP's actions ''an act of war.''
''House Republicans responded that there is a greater institution under attack in our state today -- the institution of marriage,'' Bosma said.
A handful of Democrats and all 49 Republicans have signed a petition in support of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Amending the state constitution takes passage of a resolution by two consecutive, separately elected Legislatures and approval in a statewide vote.
The process usually takes at least three years.
A proposal to start the process passed the Republican-controlled Senate, but Bauer has repeatedly refused GOP requests that it get a committee hearing and a chance to advance in the House.
The blast motion, according to House rules, allows any representative to call legislation stuck in a committee to the full House for consideration if at least 51 members agree to it.
It was not clear when the last attempt at a blast motion occurred, but Dobis said one had never succeeded since he was elected in 1970.
Rep. Terry Goodin, D-Crothersville, is among the handful of Democrats who signed a petition supporting a constitutional ban on gay marriage. He said most of the constituents who have contacted him about the proposal also support it.
But Goodin said he also respected the legislative process, and what Republicans were trying was ''purely a political ploy.''
Lawmakers were not the only ones at the Statehouse weighing in on the issue.
While giving the opening prayer in the House, Phillip Messer, an evangelist from Medaryville in northwestern Indiana, brought up marriage.
''Father, we know your word tells us that it's between a man and a woman,'' Messer said. ''We know that, and so does everyone else here.''
A coalition of groups advocating equal rights for gay, bisexual and transgendered people said lawmakers should be working to include sexual orientation in the state's civil rights protections.
''How will turning our constitution into a weapon of discrimination help Indiana?'' said Jeff Miner, chair of the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination.
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