Resolution on gay marriage fails in Legislature

FILE — Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, center, speaks at a news conference at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Friday, April 11, 2014. A resolution by Rapert urging the state Supreme Court to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage was blocked by lawmakers Friday.
FILE — Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, center, speaks at a news conference at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Friday, April 11, 2014. A resolution by Rapert urging the state Supreme Court to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage was blocked by lawmakers Friday.

Arkansas lawmakers have blocked a resolution urging the state Supreme Court to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage.

A non-binding resolution objecting to a judge's decision striking down the ban failed before the Arkansas Legislative Council on a procedural vote Friday. The resolution would have urged justices to overturn Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's ruling striking down all measures preventing gay couples from marrying.

The proposal failed to win enough votes to be considered by the panel.

The resolution by Republican Sen. Jason Rapert also called on the court to invalidate hundreds of marriage licenses that have been issued since Piazza's ruling last week.

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