JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Sen. Mike Dunleavy said Tuesday that Alaskans should get the chance to cast their vote on proposed constitutional changes pertaining to issues like education and marriage.
Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, is sponsoring a proposed amendment that would allow for public money to be used for private or religious schools, and he has urged his colleagues to advance the proposal to let the people have their say.
He said he has faith in the people of Alaska and tends toward allowing them to vote on those issues.
But he made clear that just because he supports giving voters their say doesn’t mean he supports striking the current constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, as proposed by Senate Minority Leader Hollis French.
Proposed constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote in each the House and Senate before they can qualify for the ballot. Sens. Pete Kelly and Peter Micciche indicated that they were glad there was such a high bar.
Kelly, R-Fairbanks, said he would not challenge his colleagues to advance a proposal just to let the people vote. Micciche, R-Soldotna, said he thought French’s proposal would struggle for support.
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