Thursday, March 28, 2024

Arkansas, Oklahoma lawmakers react to passing of Respect for Marriage Act

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Lawmakers from Arkansas and Oklahoma react to the passing of the Respect for Marriage Act within the House of Representatives on Dec. 8.

The House handed a invoice to safeguard marriage equality, sending the measure to President Biden’s desk and marking the primary time Congress has offered federal protections for same-sex marriage.

The laws, titled the Respect for Marriage Act, handed in a 258-169-1 vote. Thirty-nine Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure, and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) was the one lawmaker to vote current.

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Republicans Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma each voted in opposition to the invoice.

Westerman voiced his opposition to the invoice in an announcement:

“The institution of marriage between one man and one woman predates any government, and the true meaning of marriage exists outside of government regulation. “The ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ not only overreaches into that institution, but it directly threatens Americans’ constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of religion by opening individuals to litigation in retaliation for their deeply held beliefs and revoking or changing faith-based organizations’ tax-exempt status for their stance on same-sex marriage. Our constitution leaves no room for negotiation when it states Congress may make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. This bill is a clear example of government overreach and presents real dangers to Americans’ First Amendment rights, and for that reason, I cannot support it.”

Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford mentioned it doesn’t have the identical steadiness of safety for each side {that a} comparatively latest Supreme Court determination offers.

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“This statute tries to be able to silence people that disagree and to say you’re now going to face litigation in the days ahead,” Lankford mentioned. “This changes that to some can have an opinion and some have the ability to be able to sue you if you disagree.”

Lankford says he expects Congress to make adjustments to the Respect for Marriage Act when authorized motion begins over the invoice.

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