Gingrich: Washington state allowing same-sex unions 'the right way'

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Friday that states that pass same-sex marriage legislation are handling the issue "the right way," because the decision is not in the hands of judges.

The legislature in Washington state, where Gingrich is campaigning, last week passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage that will go into effect in June, unless opponents can gather 120,000 signatures to force a referendum. The former House speaker was asked for his opinion on states passing such legislation after meeting with members of the Washington state Republican caucus at the Capitol.

"I think at least they're doing it the right way, which is going through voters, giving them a chance to vote and not having a handful of judges arbitrarily impose their will," Gingrich told reporters. He made a point of saying Friday that he doesn't agree with the legislation and that he would vote "no" if it were on a referendum.

Maryland also recently voted to allow same-sex marriage, joining six states and the District of Columbia with similar laws on the books -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The New Jersey legislature approved same-sex marriage this month, but Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the legislation and the issue may go to a referendum.

But in some states, the courts have been much more involved in the issue. In 2009, Iowa's Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling overturning a gay marriage ban as unconstitutional. Three of the judges who ruled in that case were voted out of office in the 2010 midterm elections, an effort that Gingrich supported and helped finance through one of his nonprofit organizations.

Speaking later to a capacity crowd of 450 at a Best Western, Gingrich continued his recent attacks on President Obama's energy policy and again promised that he would bring gas prices down to between $2-$2.50 a gallon if he is elected. "The president would like to force all of us into small vehicles," Gingrich told the crowd. "The president would like to force all of us into what he thinks we should have. That's not freedom. The fact is, we all need to say to Barack Obama, you know, he's president of the wrong country."

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsGamecore/~3/BlvDxlMeQiY/

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