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Verfasser: Hexe Datum: Mittwoch, den 23. Juni 2004, um 23:08 Uhr Betrifft: Was macht Hatch in Punkto "Homo- Ehe"?
Hi Folks,
Diesen Artikel fand ich in der heutigen Ausgabe der Salt Lake Tribune:
GOP gay-wed bill gets Hatchs support
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney cites Utahs territorial battle over polygamy as an example of when federal intervention in state marriage policy is warranted and necessary. He supports an amendment that forbids states from recognizing any same-sex marriages. (Dennis Cook/The Associated Press)
By Christopher Smith
The Salt Lake TribuneWASHINGTON -- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has dropped plans to write his own constitutional amendment to allow state legislatures to decide if they will legally honor gay marriages performed in another state, throwing his full support behind a version drafted by Republican colleagues that forbids states from recognizing any same-sex marriage.
Democrats seized on the difference between the two approaches during a hearing of Hatchs Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, saying a blanket federal prohibition on gay marriage tramples states rights. But the hearings star witness, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, cited Utahs territorial battle with the federal government over polygamy as an example of when federal intervention in state marriage policy is warranted and necessary.
"There was a long time ago a state that considered the practice of polygamy [legal] and as I recall the federal government correctly stepped in and said, That is not something the state should decide, " Romney told the committee. "We have a federal view on marriage; this should not be left to an individual state."
Later in the hearing, responding to Democratic skepticism that marriage faces an imminent threat demanding prompt constitutional countermeasures, Romney again drew a parallel with polygamy, saying if Massachusetts suddenly legalized plural marriage, he suspected Congress would recognize the need for an immediate constitutional amendment.
The Republican governor who shepherded Utahs 2002 Olympics said due to his states supreme court ruling that legalized gay marriage beginning last month, Massachusetts is "exporting" legally wed same-sex couples around the nation. When gay couples who wed in Massachusetts move elsewhere, "the definition of marriage will be applied in the state [where they live] as it is in Massachusetts," he said.
Hatch agreed, adding that in a short time the anti-gay marriage Defense of Marriage Act -- which passed by wide bipartisan margins and was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996 -- will be ruled unconstitutional, removing the last legal protection for traditional marriage.
"The bottom line is that absent a constitutional amendment, this issue will be resolved by the United States Supreme Court, and many believe it will likely be resolved in favor of same-sex marriage," said Hatch.
Senate Republican leaders plan to stage a floor vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., which Republicans say would allow states to legalize civil unions but would outlaw same-sex marriage. Democrats dispute that interpretation of the language, and question why any constitutional amendment is even needed.
"This hearing isnt about preserving marriage, its about preserving Republicans in the White House and in Congress," said the committees top Democrat, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
Hatch didnt specify why he shelved a plan he announced in March to write an amendment that did not include a definition of marriage as "a union of a man and woman" into the Constitution, as the Allard bill does. He had said it would be easier to win Senate passage of a resolution that did not include the definition but gave states the right to buck the "full faith and credit clause" of the Constitution and refuse to recognize marriages that may be deemed legal in other states. Allard opposed Hatchs approach, saying it could actually allow states to legalize polygamy, and Republican leadership has been working to present the image of GOP members united behind Allards Federal Marriage Amendment.
"Its coming down to this one amendment and Im willing to -- Im co-sponsor of this amendment and I will vote for it," Hatch said.
csmith@sltrib.com
Mitt Romney. der Gouverneur von Massachusetts Was denkt Ihr darüber?