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NM Lawmakers Plan To Stop Same-Sex Marriages
Formal opposition to the same-sex marriage movement in New Mexico is beginning to take shape. A group of Republican state lawmakers is now planning a lawsuit to stop six county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Several county clerks have taken it upon themselves to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They say the state constitution does not expressly prohibit it. Two district court judges have ordered several other county clerks to issue the licenses to same-sex couples.
But the group behind the lawsuit says the decision to make marriage legal for same-sex couples in the state should reside with lawmakers, not county clerks or judges.
"Each state rep in New Mexico represents 29,000 people and their voice is not heard in this," said Republican Representative Alonzo Baldonado from Los Lunas. "You don't circumvent the process. You go through and you figure out a way to get that bill passed. And that's how we get things done in a legislative body."
Since last Wednesday, more than 450 marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples across the state.