The Senate Judiciary Committee this morning approved putting the gay marriage amendment to a vote in the full Senate. This comes after a day of wrangling between Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and WI Senator Russ Feingold over the placement of the vote (putting it in the President's room where it would be out of reach from the public) and a good deal of general ill-feeling.

In the end, Feingold left the committee meeting after a testy exchange :

Specter: "I don't need to be lectured by you. You are no more a protector of the Constitution than am I."

"If you want to leave, good riddance

Feingold: "I've enjoyed your lecture, too, Mr. Chairman," replied Feingold, D-Wis., "See ya."

The vote went by party lines, 10-8, approving moving the amendment to a vote in the full Senate, where it is believed it will ultimately fail to pass.

This is becoming a disruptive point not only in Washington, but also in Wisconsin where a similar measure is going to the public in a non-binding referendum in November.

More information on the federal amendment is available here .