Congress rejects ban on gay marriage

NYT via ajc.com: "House Republicans failed Tuesday in an effort to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, part of a proposed 'values agenda' that they hope will rally voters in midterm elections in November.

The vote was 237-187 in favor of the amendment, with one member voting 'present,' well short of the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution. ...

The vote was largely symbolic because the Senate rejected a similar bill in May. Democrats accused Republicans of raising the issue even as they ignored more pressing problems, including the war in Iraq, an expanding conflict in the Middle East, high gasoline prices and North Korean missile tests."