OHIO Gov. Taft: Proposed amendment to ban gay marriage goes too far

Ohio Republican leaders are split on the issue.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Gov. Bob Taft said Wednesday he opposes a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, saying it goes further than the state law he supported earlier this year and could lead to lawsuits because of its ambiguous language.
The amendment says, in part, that government entities cannot create a legal status for unmarried people that "intends to approximate" various elements of marriage.
Taft, a Republican, said there will be as many interpretations of that phrase as "there are judges in the state of Ohio."
Analysts say the amendment banning civil unions and legal status to all unmarried couples could affect benefits policies of private employers as well as public and other legal agreements including joint home ownership.
Taft also said the amendment could hurt the state's economy.
"The ambiguity and breadth of Issue 1 will make it more difficult for us to retain and attract the young talented knowledge workers we need to advance Ohio's prosperity in the 21st century," Taft said.
Reaction
Taft's opposition doesn't matter, said Phil Burress, president of Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values, which is pushing the amendment.
"It's really unimportant to us what the governor thinks. This is an issue for the people of Ohio," Burress said. "I'm not trying to put him down, I'm just trying to say, what difference does it make?"
Burress said Taft implied that only homosexuals are "young talented workers," which he called insulting. He said companies can offer incentives such as higher salaries or housing grants to attract workers.
Other statewide elected officials who oppose the measure include Attorney General Jim Petro and Republican U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich. They say they're against gay marriage but, like Taft, believe the amendment goes too far.
Treasurer Joe Deters, Auditor Betty Montgomery and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell support it.
Petro, Montgomery and Blackwell, all Republicans, are running for governor in 2006.