Today, the Massachusetts legislature (twice) voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage, bringing the state a step closer towards letting the voters decide on the issue in 2008.

Governor-elect Deval Patrick had previously urged lawmakers to ignore their constitutional duty and adjourn the constitutional convention without voting.

In a statement, Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute and VoteOnMarriage.Org said, "Today's victory is about restoring the integrity and authority of the people's constitutional right to petition their government [...] It says to the 170,000 citizens who signed the petitions for the right to vote on marriage that democracy still works in Massachusetts for those who are willing to take a stand for justice."

This is not only a victory for supporters of traditional marriage, but also for Mitt Romney, who is on the verge of setting up his presidential exploratory committee. Romney and ten other citizens filed a lawsuit seeking to force the legislature to vote on the measure. The SJC may not have forced the legislature to vote, but did rule it was their constitutional duty to do so, and that had a major impact on today's vote.

As some conservatives question Romney's conservative credentials, his role in the fight to save marriage in Massachusetts will not go unnoticed.

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