News

Log Cabin Calls on House of Representatives to Reject Anti-Family Constitutional Amendment

More Conservative Voices Speaking Out Against Amendment

July 17, 2006

(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans call on the U.S. House of Representatives to reject an anti-family constitutional amendment – the same proposal that already failed in the U.S. Senate last month. "States are perfectly capable of working through this issue without interference from Washington," said Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero.

"This amendment is a solution in search of a problem," said Guerriero. "State courts and legislatures throughout the country are working through this issue. Federal intervention on this issue violates the core principles of federalism, which is supposed to be a foundation of the GOP's philosophy."

Last month, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected the constitutional amendment for the second time in two years. The proposal also was resoundingly defeated in the House in 2004.

A growing number of conservative voices have spoken out against the amendment. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) voiced his opposition to the amendment, saying "legal pandemonium has not ensued" In Massachusetts where civil marriage is legal for same-sex couples. He said, "The past two years have shown that federalism, not more federal laws, is a viable and preferable approach."

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) led the Republican voices speaking out against this proposal last month. Quoting former GOP Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), a staunch defender of federalism, Specter said, "Government ought to be kept off our backs, out of our pocketbooks and out of our bedrooms." Specter said, "This is a matter which ought to be left to the states."

Senator Specter is echoing other conservative opponents of this amendment including Vice President Dick Cheney, former Senator John Danforth (R-MO), columnist George Will, columnist Charles Krauthammer, and many others.

Arizona Senator John McCain also spoke out against the amendment on the Senate floor. McCain said, "I'm reluctant to abandon the federalism that is part of the essence of conservative political thought in our country."

McCain joined Senators Specter, John Sununu (R-NH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Judd Gregg (R-NH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) in opposing the amendment. A sizable group of other GOP Senators expressed reservations about supporting the amendment if there had been an up or down vote last month. "Log Cabin applauds all those Republicans who have stood up against this amendment. Momentum is on our side because more Republicans are voicing doubts about this amendment. They understand it will trample on state authority and it will jeopardize civil unions and domestic partnerships," concluded Guerriero.