Twenty-seven states have added Marriage Protection Amendments to their Constitutions.  Pennsylvania could be next with an amendment working through the legislature. Tom Shaheen of the Pennsylvania Family Institute praises the effort to get the major parties to formally support a federal marriage amendment.

"This will protect every state's public policy on marriage. And it makes sense to put that before both the Democrat and Republican parties. Certainly, here in Pennsylvania we have bi-partisan support." 

Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, also wants both parties to put it in their platforms.

"We need to move toward being in a country where both major political parties support marriage and the first thing to do is put the issue on the table and ask them to vote on it."

Bruce Hausknecht of Focus on the Family Action says the more discussion America hears about the need for a federal amendment the better its chances.

"Anytime that the marriage issue can be brought up on the national level, whether it’s a convention plank or on the floor of the Senate and House, it needs to be done."

The Democrats’ platform four years ago said "states have defined marriage for 200 years and we believe that should continue."  The GOP’s plank in 2004 read 'We strongly support President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage.