One of the amendment's co-sponsors, state Sen. Chris Buttars, R-Salt Lake, said Part Two does exactly what is intended: It protects the first part of the amendment.

"If you believe that marriage is only between a man or woman, Part Two is absolutely necessary," he said, before challenging anyone to tell him where in the proposed law it prevents gay or lesbian couples from merely signing "a letter granting the desires of each other of inheritance or hospital rights or anything."

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Contributing: Associated Press

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com "

I take the constitution very seriously, and don't think it's the kind of thing we should amend for something like this.

Greg Skordas

Democratic candidate

"