US marriage ban fails
The US Senate has blocked an attempt by President George Bush to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage.
Only 49 senators voted to send the motion to a final vote -“ well short of the 60 votes needed to pass the motion.
The failure of the proposed amendment last night was widely expected. It also failed the last time it was put to a Senate vote in 2004.
Supporters of the marriage ban have indicated they intend to continue fighting for it.
Bush said he was disappointed but called it “the start of a ne
