Sen. Sheila Sorensen, R-Boise, announced this morning that she has chosen not to schedule HJR 9, the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, for a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee, which she chairs.

"It's an emotional, contentious, divisive issue," Sorensen said. "Why do we need to bring something like this forward when we have so many serious issues?"

Sorensen noted that if the amendment were to pass, costly litigation is likely. She said that's unnecessary, since the issue is being addressed at the national level. Furthermore, she said the issue is being used as a "litmus test" for the November election, and could draw negative national attention to Idaho.

Senators supportive of the amendment still could try parliamentary maneuvers to pull the bill from Sorensen's committee, but failing that, it's dead. Same-sex marriage already is illegal in Idaho. "Anything could happen - this is a very divisive issue," Sorensen said. "I believe that this is the right thing - I don't believe this is something we should put forward."

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