Congressman Tim Walz, a military veteran whose re-election bid in the 1st District appears safe, is jumping into the marriage amendment fray by helping launch a Veterans United group that opposes the proposed constitutional amendment.
The Veterans United group says it is "a coalition of men and women veterans of the armed services who are united to oppose the amendment that would limit the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Minnesota."
At a media event launch Tuesday at the Capitol, Walz will appear with Lori and Jeff Wilfahrt of Rosemount, who have been very active gay rights supporters since their son, Andrew, an openly gay soldier from Rosemount, was killed in Afghanistan in 2011.
Also scheduled to appear are Trista Matascastillo of the U.S. Marine and Minnesota Army National Guard, and Brian Cihacek of the Minnesota Army National Guard.
The Veterans United group plans to campaign around the state against the proposed amendment in the weeks before the Nov. 6 election.
Walz, a retired command sergeant major in the National Guard, is seeking his fourth term in Congress. He's opposed by Republican Allen Quist.