PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- She's making no promises on the eventual outcome, but Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed said Monday that should the House pass a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on that bill, or at least vote on the issue.
PAIVA WEED
The Senate president said her views on same-sex marriage have not changed: She opposes it.
But she said she will not use her position to influence other senators.
House Speaker Gordon Fox has said he will push for passage of a same-sex marriage bill in 2013, so many observers are focusing on the Senate to see what happens there.
Paiva Weed said she believes that some of the debate on such a bill will focus religious exemptions for institutions. Asked if the issue should be put on the ballot, she said she prefers to see such issues decided by lawmakers it did not rule out a referendum.