In the vast majority of instances when Americans are given a chance to vote to support the traditional definition of marriage, they do. Unfortunately, liberal obstructionists fight tooth and nail to keep voters from being able to decide at the ballot box how their states should define marriage. The battle rages on in several states. Here’s an update on what is going on in four of them (PA, IN, FL, and IA):
Florida
AdvanceUSA recently reported that more signatures were needed so that Floridians will have a chance to vote to protect marriage on their 2008 ballot. Now our friends at Florida4Marriage.org are trying to correct the record because of misleading and dated information disseminated by four newspapers and picked up by other news organizations mistakenly claiming that the marriage amendment is already approved for the ballot. Here’s an excerpt of their critique:
In an [sic] stunning display of journalistic confusion, no less than four daily newspapers tied to the EW Scripps Treasure Coast Newspaper Company printed a one month old (and therefore inaccurate) story about the status of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.
…
These stories totally missed the breaking news that was all over the state this week that Florida4Marriage.org needs an additional 22,000 petitions to qualify for the ballot after an unprecedented audit was ordered by the state.
While it appears to be a legitimate and embarrassing mistake, the effects of this mistake in this time of crisis and emergency make it that much more egregious to the effort.
For the record: Florida4Marriage.org is still collecting petitions and we continue to do so without stopping all the way till the deadline of Tuesday January 29, 2008. All petitions must be in the Florida4Marriage.org office no later than 5:00pm on January 29, 2008. (4853 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando FL 32806). For more information visit: www.Florida4Marriage.org
To find out how you can support marriage in Florida, check Florida4Marriage.org.
Pennsylvania
According to http://www.pa4marriage.org/ State Senator Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) will soon introduce a marriage protection amendment bill to “protect the definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman and prevent creation of civil unions (or other terms used to give all the legal benefits of marriage under a different name).” Concerned Pennsylvanians should contact their state senators (by phone or in person) and urge them to cosponsor Sen. Brubaker’s bill and vote “Yes” on this marriage protection amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution.
For more information on protecting marriage in Pennsylvania, check http://www.pa4marriage.org/
Indiana
Despite the fact that legislative committees frequently consider dozens of pieces of legislation simultaneously, House Rules Chairman Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) claims there is not enough time to consider the marriage amendment and the property tax issue. If the marriage amendment is not passed by the legislature this legislative term, Hoosier voters will be deprived of an opportunity to support the protection of marriage in Indiana on their 2008 ballot.
Concerned Hoosiers are encouraged to contact state representative Pelath and encourage him to give marriage the attention it deserves.
Check with the AFA of Indiana for more information.
UPDATE: The Christian Post reports that
an Indiana
state senate committee has approved the Indiana marriage amendment.
Now the state house must approve the bill, or it will take six years before the
amendment could be considered again. House Speaker Patrick Bauer (D-South
Bend) has indicated that he will obstruct the bill. Concerned Hoosiers
should let their voices be heard. To find out who your Indiana state house representative is and
how to contact him/her click here.
Iowa
Excerpt from the Des Moines Register:
Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday [January 16] at the State Capitol, asking lawmakers to launch an effort to amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage.
As AdvanceUSA reported this summer, many Iowans were understandably outraged when a federal judge mandated same-sex marriage in Iowa from the bench. Here’s hoping pro-traditional marriage Iowans are successful in their efforts.