Mormon-led push to ban same-sex marriage in Wyoming fails.

A tag-team effort by the Religious Right and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) to add an amendment to the Wyoming Constitution banning same-sex marriage failed last month.

House Joint Resolution 17, which would have put the question of a same-sex marriage ban before the voters, failed in the House of Representatives by a 35-25 vote Feb. 6.

The measure had been introduced by Rep. Owen Petersen, a Republican from Mountain View who is one of 11 Mormons serving in the 90-member legislature. The Casper Star-Tribune reported recently that Mormons in the legislature are working as an informal bloc to promote legislation on social issues and are being recruited as co-sponsors by conservative lawmakers from other religious denominations.

A statewide Religious Right group called the WyWatch Family Institute has also been reaching out to the Mormons. Becky Vandeberghe, chair of the group, told the newspaper the organization solicits help from a variety of conservatives, remarking, "We honestly don't look at religion."

The religious coalition has introduced legislation curtailing abortion, banning assisted suicide and targeting other social issues.

Members of the Mormon bloc in Wyoming denied they are coordinating efforts.

"The fact of my religion probably has something to do with it," said Sen. Stan Cooper, a Republican from Kemmerer. "But I also have many constituents who are Christians but don't have a particular religion, but they are interested in these bills."

Mormon Church leaders in Wyoming insist they do not take a stand on legislation in the state, but the Star-Tribune pointed out that church officials in 2006 worked to kill a bill establishing a state lottery.

In Utah, where the state legislature is dominated by Mormons, the church's political role is more obvious. The Salt Lake Tribune reported Jan. 26 that every year, Mormon authorities meet with legislative leaders from both parties at the church's headquarters.

During the meetings, which have been going on for the past 15 years, church leaders outline their views on various legislative proposals and indicate what political deals they might be willing to make.

This year, the church seemed especially concerned about Utah's arcane system of liquor laws. The church opposes the consumption of alcohol, which has led to an unusual system in the state. Many bars operate as "private clubs," requiring a nominal membership fee before someone can drink.

Church officials have indicated they might support reform of the system if patrons' drivers' licenses could be scanned to prevent underage drinking.

Tribune columnist Rebecca Walsh has had enough. She said of the meeting, "Utahns are so used to it, we don't even blink anymore. It was a routine news story, rather than an unconstitutional outrage."

Walsh added, "There's an easy way to fix this: End the annual meetings."

Church officials, however, insist they have done nothing wrong. Michael Otterson, managing director of public affairs for the church, insisted that the purpose of the meetings is not to issue marching orders to lawmakers.

"The LDS Church's will or doctrine is not binding on state law, nor should it be," Otterson wrote in a Tribune column. "It is simply one in a collection of voices and interests that may sometimes compete and sometimes be complementary."

The political power of the Mormon Church is getting a closer look these days in the wake of reports that church money and grassroots mobilization helped pass a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage in California in November.