Florida marriage amendment fails to qualify for ’06

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A nearly yearlong effort to allow Florida citizens to vote on a state constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage failed to gain the necessary 611,000 valid petitions, leaders of the Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage announced Feb. 1. The Florida Division of Elections Web site reported 456,363 valid petitions as of 10:30 p.m. Feb. 1 — the deadline…