Gov. Brownback sees gay marriage as settled issue in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback still supports a federal law against gay marriage that he backed as a member of Congress and says the issue is settled in Kansas because of the state constitution's ban.

Brownback faced questions Thursday from reporters with two cases on gay marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court. Brownback has long supported the traditional definition of marriage.

In one case, the high court is being asked to strike down a gay-marriage ban in California enacted by voters. The other case is a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996.

Brownback voted for the federal law while in Congress.

He said the issue is resolved in Kansas because in a 2005 election, nearly 70 percent of voters approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.