TOPEKA, Kan. – The debate that has been going on in Kansas over the statue of Kansas, which recognizes marriage only as the union of one man and one woman, whether it makes the amendment necessary or unnecessary ended yesterday.

By a vote of 79-45, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban homosexual marriage in Kansas failed Tuesday, May 04. The senate adopted the proposal Saturday on a 27-13 vote. The proposal would have also denied legal benefits associated with marriage to other domestic arrangements, such as civil unions.

Some legislators believe the statute makes the amendment unnecessary, but others say the amendment is necessary to prevent any revision done by a court or Legislature.

Meanwhile Massachusetts is training town and city clerks and their staff members for the implementation of correct procedures to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

Gov. Mitt Romney's top legal adviser announced Tuesday about legal matters involved with issuing marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples. He said if local clerks issue marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples, that will make the marriages void and could result in legal repercussions for the clerks themselves.

"What conscientious clerk ever would issue a license in violation of Massachusetts law when the consequences and ramifications to children and innocent parties would be so great?" Winslow said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I simply can't see that any clerk would do that."