Otter, Bedke, Hill all pledge to defend constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

House Speaker Scott Bedke and Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill both agreed with earlier comments from Gov. Butch Otter this morning about defending Idaho’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage from a legal challenge. Otter said Idaho voters enacted the measure into the Constitution, and the state has a duty to defend that enactment. “My responsibility is to enforce the law and to obey the Constitution,” Otter said; four same-sex couples are now challenging the ban as unconstitutional in federal court.

Said Hill, “Is it a wise use of funds? It’s always a wise use of funds to defend our Constitution.” He said both the governor and the Attorney General have that duty.