Republican Congressman Paul Broun has announced plans to reintroduce an amendment to the US Constitution to bar same-sex marriage.
Broun (R-Ga) said the California Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex marriage has made it an imperative to reign in what he called "activist judges".
[I was wondering how long it would take for the GOP and far-right to say ‘activist judges.’ The majority of the Justices on the California Supreme Court were appointed by Republicans.]
"My amendment will preserve the original intent of the drafters of the Constitution, by ensuring that no state or federal judge can take it upon themselves to suddenly discover a right to homosexual marriage within the text of the document," Broun said in a statement.
"It will also provide a defense against activist judges who seek to overturn the will of the people by manipulating state constitutions in order to impose their preferred policy position."
Conservatives in California already are organizing a proposed amendment to ban gay marriage but Broun said even if approved by voters in that state would not prevent similar ruling elsewhere in the country.
Voters in Broun's home state of Georgia approved an amendment to the state constitution outlawing same-sex marriage in 2004. "There simply is no basis for the suggestion that homosexual ‘marriage’ is a right protected by the United States Constitution," Broun said.
Republicans have been trying to amend the Constitution since 2004, as a result of; the Massachusetts high court ruling that legalized gay marriage there.
Despite GOP control of Congress and support from President Bush, a proposed amendment failed to garner enough votes to succeed in either 2004 or 2006. With Democrats now in control of both the House and Senate it is considered unlikely Broun's move to reintroduce the measure will even make it to committee.
Still, Broun said he intends to make it a key issue in his re-election campaign.
While all three presidential hopefuls oppose amending the US Constitution, Republican Sen. John McCain has said he supports proposed state amendments in his home state of Arizona and in California.
Amending the US Constitution requires approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate and then would have to pass by three-fourths of state legislatures.
Broun (R-Ga) said the California Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex marriage has made it an imperative to reign in what he called "activist judges".
[I was wondering how long it would take for the GOP and far-right to say ‘activist judges.’ The majority of the Justices on the California Supreme Court were appointed by Republicans.]
"My amendment will preserve the original intent of the drafters of the Constitution, by ensuring that no state or federal judge can take it upon themselves to suddenly discover a right to homosexual marriage within the text of the document," Broun said in a statement.
"It will also provide a defense against activist judges who seek to overturn the will of the people by manipulating state constitutions in order to impose their preferred policy position."
Conservatives in California already are organizing a proposed amendment to ban gay marriage but Broun said even if approved by voters in that state would not prevent similar ruling elsewhere in the country.
Voters in Broun's home state of Georgia approved an amendment to the state constitution outlawing same-sex marriage in 2004. "There simply is no basis for the suggestion that homosexual ‘marriage’ is a right protected by the United States Constitution," Broun said.
Republicans have been trying to amend the Constitution since 2004, as a result of; the Massachusetts high court ruling that legalized gay marriage there.
Despite GOP control of Congress and support from President Bush, a proposed amendment failed to garner enough votes to succeed in either 2004 or 2006. With Democrats now in control of both the House and Senate it is considered unlikely Broun's move to reintroduce the measure will even make it to committee.
Still, Broun said he intends to make it a key issue in his re-election campaign.
While all three presidential hopefuls oppose amending the US Constitution, Republican Sen. John McCain has said he supports proposed state amendments in his home state of Arizona and in California.
Amending the US Constitution requires approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate and then would have to pass by three-fourths of state legislatures.
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