Dayton Strongly Opposes Gay Marriage Ban

ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton says he opposes outlawing gay marriage in the Minnesota Constitution "with every fiber of my being" and believes an amendment to do so will be defeated if it ends up on the statewide ballot.

The House Rules Committee voted 13-12 on Wednesday to put the issue before the full House. The committee's Republican majority voted in favor with the exception of Rep. Tim Kelly of Red Wing, who becomes the second House Republican to publicly oppose it alongside Rep. John Kriesel of Cottage Grove.

The state Senate has already passed the amendment. If passed by the House it would go before voters statewide in 2012. A House vote could come as early as Thursday.

Dayton has no authority to block it from the ballot but says Wednesday he thinks Minnesotans have more "compassion and understanding" than supporters of the ban realize.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)