Tag Archives: Marriage

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Pelosi – House Dems and Congress in the Newsroom JUNE 2012

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It’s been more than 250 days since the GOP took control of the House, and Americans are still asking: Where are the jobs, House Republicans?

The middle class is hurting, and the Republicans’ only answer is a plan to end Medicare and give tax breaks to Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas.

Learn more about the legislation the House has considered this Congress:

The Republican Default Act»

H.R. 1315 – Assault on Consumer Protections»

H.R. 2560 – GOP Cut, Cap & End Medicare Act»

H.R. 2018 – Undermining Clean Water»

H.R. 1309 – Flood Insurance»

H.R. 2417 – BULB Act»

H.R. 2219 – Defense Appropriations»

H.R. 2021 – More Giveaways to Big Oil, Not Lower Gas Prices»

H.R. 672 – Ending the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)»

H.R. 2112 – FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill»

H.R. 2055 – FY 2012 Military Construction/VA Appropriations Bill»

H.R. 1229 & H.R. 1231 – More Gifts To Big Oil»

H.R. 1230 – A Gift to Big Oil»

Restricting Women’s Access to Health Care»

Reducing Access to Health Care For Small Businesses & Uninsured»

Reducing Access to Health Care for Young People»

Upton-Inhofe Weaken Clean Air Act»

The FAA Job Loss Bill»

DC Private School Vouchers»

HAMP Termination Act»

GOP Spending Bill»

Build America Bonds»

GOP Patients’ Rights Repeal Bill»

H.R. 359 – Placing Control of Our Elections More Squarely Into the Hands of Special Interests»

Learn more about Democratic motions the House has considered this Congress:
On certain bills, House Democrats are allowed to offer a Motion to Recommit amending the pending bill before the final passage vote. Democrats have offered many motions this Congress ranging from increasing combat pay for our troops to protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Democratic Motions to Recommit in the 112th Congress»

As Speaker Boehner continues his legal boondoggle to defend the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in the federal courts, he is batting 0 for 4. Today’s ruling in Windsor vs. U.S. marks the fourth loss for his lawyers as the court ruled that DOMA serves no rational purpose and is unconstitutional.

In Windsor vs. U.S., Speaker Boehner intervened in the case of Edie Windsor who was penalized by DOMA to the tune of $350,000 after the death of her spouse, Thea Spyer, of 44 years.

When Thea died, the federal government refused to recognize their marriage and taxed Edie’s inheritance from Thea as though they were strangers. Under DOMA, only an opposite-sex spouse who dies can leave her assets, including the family home, to the other spouse without incurring estate taxes.

Boehner’s lawyers have now intervened in 14 cases and spent over $700,000 in taxpayer funds, but have now lost four cases in a row:

February 22, 2012 – U.S. District Court in California declares DOMA unconstitutional, in Golinski v. United States, ruling in favor of Karen Golinski who sought to enroll her wife in the federal employee health plan

May 24, 2012 – U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California rules DOMA unconstitutional and held that federal tax law cannot limit the participation of same-sex married couples and domestic partners in a long-term care insurance plan in Dragovich v. U.S. Department of Treasury.

May 31, 2012 – U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston rules DOMA unconstitutional in Massachusetts v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

June 6, 2012 – U.S. District Court in New York rules DOMA unconstitutional in Windsor vs. U.S.

More background and a timeline of Speaker Boehner’s indefensible DOMA defense are available here.

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Amendment 1 …Michael Langenmayr, Democracy for America


North Carolinians voted down Amendment One — an anti-gay amendment that has far-reaching implications for all families.
Amendment One doesn’t just ban marriage for gay and lesbian couples — it would ban civil unions, domestic partnerships and any other sort of legal recognition.

   This is an issue of Civil Rights …

It would also restrict the rights of unmarried couples — gay or straight — to visit one another in the hospital.
Amendment One restricts other rights from unmarried couples, too — like healthcare. The amendment is so poorly-written that there are many far-reaching consequences. If passed, children of unmarried couples could lose their health insurance and prescription drug coverage.
It even restricts domestic violence protections to married women, leaving unmarried women more vulnerable. Single women would not receive the justice and protections they count on and deserve.
Amendment One is an attack on all families — and we need to stop it, now.

Thank you for everything you do.
-Michael
Michael Langenmayr, Political Director Democracy for America

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URGENT: Marriage equality at stake in NH


 
Change.org
Act now: Stop the NH legislature from abolishing marriage equality.
Sign the Petition

While the country is distracted by the New Hampshire primary, New Hampshire’s state legislature is swiftly moving to abolish gay marriage. They could vote on the issue as soon as this Thursday.

Craig Stowell is a New Hampshire native who recently testified at the New Hampshire State House to ask the legislature not to pass HB 437, the bill that would abolish marriage equality. But Craig isn’t gay — in fact, he’s a straight married Marine, and a conservative Republican.

Craig knows firsthand how damaging it can be when the government says it’s okay to treat the LGBT community like second-class citizens. Craig’s brother Calvin was horribly bullied as a kid because he’s gay. “There were nights that I worried I may wake up and he wouldn’t be there any longer; crushed by the misery he was forced to endure,” Craig says.

So Craig started a petition on Change.org asking the New Hampshire legislature to reject HB 437. The vote could come in a matter of days. Please click here to sign Craig’s petition right now — your signature will be delivered to the New Hampshire legislature immediately.

Since New Hampshire legalized marriage equality in 2009, more than 1,800 loving same-sex couples have been married. Polls show that a large majority of New Hampshire residents support that right — 62%, according to a recent poll from the University of New Hampshire.

“When my wife Berta and I were married, Calvin was right there by my side as my best man,” Craig says. “I want the opportunity to be his best man when he finds the person he wants to marry. With your help, I know we can ensure that freedom will still be there when he does.”

New Hampshire legislators may think they can sneak in HB 437 during the ruckus surrounding the New Hampshire primary, but they need to know that their actions are being watched and that people in New Hampshire and around the country won’t stand for this vicious step backward.

Time is short — click here right now to sign Craig’s petition demanding that the New Hampshire legislature reject HB 437, the bill that would abolish marriage equality.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Eden and the Change.org team
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Make marriage equality in Washington a reality!


With the momentum for marriage equality around the country on our side and recent polling showing growing support in Washington State, now is the time to make marriage equality a reality.

Today, Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times ran a story announcing Washington United for Marriage, a vast coalition of local organizations, congregations, unions and businesses working together to secure civil marriage for loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in 2012.

 
HRC is a proud founding member of Washington United, and we look forward to securing marriage in Washington in the coming months. In order to do that, we need your help.

Join us across the state for Community Meetings on Marriage Equality, where you can learn about the campaign and how you can get involved. From Spokane to Gig Harbor, Vancouver to Bellingham, Washingtonians are making their voices heard.

Click here to find the community meeting in your area >>> WWW.HRC.ORG

All the best,

Marty Rouse
National Field Director

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NC may constitutionally ban same-sex marriage


By Estes Gould | The Daily Tar Heel

North Carolina could soon be one step away from becoming the last Southern state to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage.

The N.C. House of Representatives passed the controversial Defense of Marriage amendment on Monday, which would make heterosexual marriage the only union recognized by the state.

The 75 to 42 vote in favor of the legislation came after more than three hours of debate, and it could be put to a vote in the Senate today. If it follows expectations and passes, the measure will be on the first primary ballot in the 2012 elections.

“It’s for the citizens to decide how they want to define their institution, the institution of marriage,” said N.C. Rep. Nelson Dollar, R-Wake.

Supporters of the amendment agree with Dollar.

“The citizens of this state really want the opportunity to vote on this, and now they’re one step closer to getting that,” said Tami Fitzgerald, the executive director of NC Values Coalition.

But Seth Keel, a gay teenager in Dollar’s jurisdiction, called the legislation “shameful” when he addressed some Republican legislators after the vote.

“No one is voting on their marriages,” Keel said. “So why does the public have a right to vote on whether or not I can get married?”

N.C. Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, said the amendment would interfere with child custody arrangements and prevent same-sex couples, and unmarried heterosexual couples, from receiving treatment or counseling for domestic violence.

“This proposed constitutional amendment runs against the tide of history,” he said. “I think that’s why it’s being brought here today, in a last gasp to forestall that tide of history.”

Hackney, and other Democrats, said the procedure for the legislation was unfair and calculated — originally, the bill was to be considered in the Senate Judiciary committee on Monday. Instead, it was considered in the House Rules committee, passed, then pushed for “immediate consideration.”

Rep. Susan Fisher, D-Buncombe, said amendments are rarely ever considered immediately by the legislature, and Hackney said the procedure minimized debate about the language of the amendment.

But Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, the House majority leader, said the procedure was not unusual.

Republican legislators said the amendment would prevent judges from overturning current law, which bans same-sex marriages.

But Democratic representatives said it was unnecessary and unjust.

“Putting the rights of the minority population up for a vote by the majority is a terrible notion and a terrible precedent,” said Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, who emotionally defended same-sex marriage on behalf of her sister, a lesbian.

More TarHeels  New …

Proposed Jobs Act could help NC colleges

Contact the State & National Editor at state@dailytarheel.com.