Mass. lawmakers denounce bid for an amendment
WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers who represent Massachusetts in Congress unanimously oppose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, calling the proposal a political ploy that would codify discrimination and diminish the integrity of the Constitution.
"The real threat here is not to the institution of marriage. The real threat here is to the Constitution of the United States," said Representative William Delahunt, Democrat of Quincy.
Congress has reacted cautiously to President Bush's demand this week that lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Many lawmakers are alarmed at the spate of gay marriages that have occurred recently in San Francisco and are scheduled to begin in Massachusetts in May, but they are also skittish about changing the Constitution to stop the practice.
Bay State lawmakers are even more defiant, saying they would fight to kill the proposed amendment.
"I've been married 30 years. This has nothing to do with my marriage," said Representative Michael Capuano, Democrat of Cambridge.
Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Newton, said the proposal would not win the necessary two-thirds majority if it came to the House floor for a vote.
"We have enough hate, enough bigotry, enough division in this country," said Representative James McGovern, Democrat of Worcester. "This is about adding discrimination to the Constitution of the United States of America, which I think is appalling . . . The Constitution is supposed to be something that empowers people, not something that takes rights away or adds a bias or discrimination."
Representative John Olver, Democrat of Amherst, agreed, saying the proposed amendment would "enshrine discrimination in our basic law."
Representative Martin Meehan, Democrat of Lowell, predicted there was "no way" the proposal would get through Congress.
"This is demagoging at best by the Republicans. Even people who will vote in favor of this constitutional amendment recognize the fact that in 10 years, the vote will be an embarrassment," Meehan said.
Said Representative Edward Markey, Democrat of Malden: "You can absolutely smell the White House political machine overriding any policy concerns that might be raised by more moderate Republicans."
No hearings have been scheduled yet in the House to consider the draft amendment, sponsored by Representative Marilyn Musgrave and Senator Wayne Allard, both Colorado Republicans. Allard said the amendment would still allow states to create civil unions for gays.
Representative Richard Neal, Democrat of Springfield, said gay marriage should be left to the states. "Republican resist federalized answers to every other question but gay marriage," he said.
A spokesman for Representative Stephen Lynch, Democrat of South Boston, said the lawmaker was opposed to the amendment. Representative John Tierney, Democrat of Salem, issued a statement saying the proposal was "more about politics than policy. "I guess this puts finality to the president's forgotten pledge to be a uniter, not a divider," he said.
Both Democratic senators from Massachusetts oppose the Musgrave-Allard amendment. 