A Marriage of Minds- marriage protection amendment
Rarely do I write a political post but this one calls for everyones attention both here in Western PA and on a national level.
On June 6th in Harrisburg, debate will begin on Pennsylvania's Marriage Protection Amendment (H.B. 2381). The vote will probably come early in the week. It will be a very close vote. An amendment to protect marriage must be introduced as a Joint Resolution by a member of either the state Senate or the state House of Representatives, and would need to be approved by a majority vote in the General Assembly in two successive sessions i.e. 2005-06, then 2006-07. (It does not require the governor's signature.)
When the proposed amendment is passed in one session of the General Assembly, it must be published in at least two newspapers in each county three months before the next election. This gives citizens the opportunity to change their representation, based on the representative's vote or anticipated vote on the amendment. After the election, the new General Assembly must again pass the amendment by majority vote. The amendment will appear again in newspapers.
It can then be voted on by the citizens in a referendum appearing on election ballots statewide. When passed by a vote of the citizenry, the Constitution has been successfully amended and marriage will have been protected in Pennsylvania. If the amendment fails to pass, it cannot be submitted again for five years.
Pennsylvania's Marriage Protection Amendment would state: "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth, and neither the Commonwealth nor any of its political subdivisions shall create or recognize a legal status identical or substantially equivalent to that of marriage for unmarried individuals."
We cannot let this slip by without our attention and without our support. Please contact your state representative- you can find their info here.
Nationally our US Senate will be voting on the Federal Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
President George W. Bush has this to say : "If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America. Decisive and democratic action is needed, because attempts to redefine marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout the country.
For all these reasons, the Defense of Marriage requires a constitutional amendment. An amendment to the Constitution is never to be undertaken lightly. The amendment process has addressed many serious matters of national concern. And the preservation of marriage rises to this level of national importance. The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honoring -- honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. Ages of experience have taught humanity that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society."
Senate Joint Resolution 30 states that "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."
Once again you must let your opinions be known quickly. You can do that here.
To learn more about this issue and others check out these sites: Pennsylvania Family Institute, Concerned Women for America, Family Research Counsel, Focus on the Family
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