Washington’s power shift has put many family issues on hold, but that doesn’t mean conservative can’t gain ground. The Alliance for Marriage is talking to lawmakers in all 50 states asking them to advance and strengthen marriage amendments. Matt Daniels of AFM says it’s preparation for the day when states get to vote on a federal constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage.

“It’s only a question, really of how fast these lawsuits will push the issue to the point of triggering the federal question. It could come as early as this spring; it could take several years. But I guarantee you, that moment is inevitable.”

Daniels wants states that don't have marriage protection amendments to pass them and those that do to tell Congress to send the federal Marriage Protection Amendment to the states for ratification.

"While we engage at the state level, we're also beginning to work out the politics of ratification for our federal amendment and these Marriage Protection Resolutions will help us to do that."

Meanwhile, Carrie Earll of Focus on the Family Action is bracing for the next attack from gay activists.

“The second phase seems to be what’s been called ‘marriage lite,’ which is the passage of domestic partnership and civil union bills that are really counterfeit marriage.”

Three-fourths of the states must approve a federal amendment for it to be added to the Constitution.