After DFL Wins, Marty Sees Same-Sex Marriage, Other Issues Back on the Table

With a resounding victory Tuesday night and the the DFL now primed to assume control of the 2013 legislative session, Roseville state Sen. John Marty said he is looking forward to putting an array of issues back on the table including a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage.

Marty- who defeated Republican challenger Wayde Brooks by 74 percent to 25 percent vote for Senate District 66- said he sees Tuesday night's election results as a changing of the guard.

After just two years at the helm of the Minnesota Legislature, Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate on Tuesday night—a defeat at least some Democrats are attributing in part to the marriage and Voter ID amendments.

During the past two years as a minority party legislator, Marty said that he was only able to get a hearing on one of the many bills he has sponsored. 

"I'm hopeful we can move forward," Marty told Roseville Patch. "I am hopeful of being able to move forward on health care and environmental issues."

Another issue that seems prime for new consideration is legalizing same-sex marriage, an initiative that Marty has previously but unsucccessfully pushed. 

With the Legislature back in DFL control, and the Marriage amendment defeated, Marty expressed confidence that efforts to legalize same-sex marriage could happen, according to a Minnesota Public Radio news report today.

"Now the voters have agreed," Marty told the radio news network. "I think we just keep on moving forward on it now."

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