Leaders Argue for Marriage Amendment

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Leaders Argue for Marriage Amendment

Special Report - August 31, 2011
Leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives held a press conference Tuesday stating their unequivocal support for SB 106—Defense of Marriage, a bill slated to be considered by the General Assembly in mid-September that would allow voters to decide whether to protect the definition of marriage in the State Constitution. House Majority leader Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam (R–Wake) and Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Dale Folwell (R–Forsyth) addressed the press on August 30 to discuss the bill’s importance in North Carolina. In a press release, the Representatives emphasized, “It’s the legislature’s responsibility to offer long-term solutions to the issues facing North Carolina. The only long-term solution to the marriage issue is to put the question to the voters. They have been demanding the opportunity to vote on an amendment for almost 10 years. It’s time they get it.”

They pointed out that developments in other states underscore the necessity of placing the definition of marriage in the State’s “Constitution in order to be fully effective.” Since North Carolina passed its marriage statutes in 1996, several states have seen same-sex “marriage” thrust on the people by judicial or legislative fiat without input from citizens. According to Rep. Folwell, “If government is going to sanction marriage, then it needs to protect it.” The same press release listed several reasons the General Assembly should pass Marriage Protection Amendment legislation, including:

The issue has been ignored by the legislature, despite public support, since 2003.
North Carolina’s marriage statutes and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) “are insufficient in the current legal environment,” in which an activist judge could rewrite the definition of society’s foundational institution single-handedly.
Legislators have a “responsibility to put such an important decision in the voters’ hands.”

A handout provided at the press conference by Rep. Stam included several “Marriage Amendment Facts and Figures,” including:

Eight of Forbes top ten states for business have passed Constitutional Marriage Amendments.
Virginia, Michigan, and Texas—all states with MPAs—each have many businesses that have received a 100 percent rating from the pro-homosexual Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.
The Marriage Amendment proposed in North Carolina would “not affect private contracts, whether between individuals as in a power of attorney or the benefit packages offered by private employers.”
North Carolina’s current statutory prohibition on same-sex “marriage” passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (more than two-thirds of members of both parties) in 1996.

Rep. Folwell highlighted the widespread support for the measure throughout North Carolina, saying, “This issue has strong geographical support across this state. It has strong gender support across this state. It has strong support across racial lines and between generations. It’s time that we put this decision to the people of this state.”

The Legislature will reconvene September 12 in a special session to consider several constitutional amendments, most notably a Marriage Protection Amendment bill. Constitutional amendments must receive a three-fifths vote in each chamber to be placed on a ballot. They are not subject to the Governor’s signature or veto, and must receive a majority vote of the people to go into effect. The current version of SB 106 would place the Marriage Protection Amendment on the November 2012 general election ballot.

Related resources:
2011 Legislative Marriage Battles - August 24, 2011
Durham Opposes Marriage Amendment - July 25, 2011
Obama Supports DOMA Repeal - July 20, 2011
Marriage Scores on Survey - June 20, 2011
Thousands Rally for Marriage - May 18, 2011