Nothing better to do
The House is abuzz today, with a steady stream of members taking to the floor to proclaim support or opposition for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
This is the amendment that defines marriage between one man and one woman, much to the chagrin of constituents in Hildale.
Those who pay attention may now be asking, "Isn't this the same amendment the Senate defeated last month?"
Yes. That's exactly right. And a quick check with the parliamentarian will show that amendments to the Constitution must indeed pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate (by 2/3 majority and be
ratified by 3/4 of the states).
So even if the resolution achieves a symbolic victory in the House, it's chances of the amendment actually going anywhere are just slimmer than those of two men marrying in Panguitch.
Why might House leaders waste their precious time (after all, this Congress has already been in session less than any modern Congress) scheduling a vote on this? A cynic, if there was one to be found in
Washington, might suggest it has something to do with forcing a vote on the issue that could be trotted out in campaign commercials come November.
Ladies and gentlemen, your elected representatives at work!
Next up on the agenda: The Windmill Anti-Aggression Act of 2006 sponsored by Rep. Don Quixote, R-La Mancha
--Robert Gehrke
This is the amendment that defines marriage between one man and one woman, much to the chagrin of constituents in Hildale.
Those who pay attention may now be asking, "Isn't this the same amendment the Senate defeated last month?"
Yes. That's exactly right. And a quick check with the parliamentarian will show that amendments to the Constitution must indeed pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate (by 2/3 majority and be
ratified by 3/4 of the states).
So even if the resolution achieves a symbolic victory in the House, it's chances of the amendment actually going anywhere are just slimmer than those of two men marrying in Panguitch.
Why might House leaders waste their precious time (after all, this Congress has already been in session less than any modern Congress) scheduling a vote on this? A cynic, if there was one to be found in
Washington, might suggest it has something to do with forcing a vote on the issue that could be trotted out in campaign commercials come November.
Ladies and gentlemen, your elected representatives at work!
Next up on the agenda: The Windmill Anti-Aggression Act of 2006 sponsored by Rep. Don Quixote, R-La Mancha
--Robert Gehrke
11:55 AM
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