House panel rejects bill blocking gay marriage in Tennessee Rino GOP + Dems join forces
Two Rino Republican Representatives joined two Democratic representatives to vote to kill a pro-marriage proposal today in Nashville, Tennesee outvoting the chairman of a committee in the state capitol.
"This disrespectful action will be responded to in a proper fashion," promised Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate, "and the legislators who stood with us and those who stood against traditional marriage will be known to our supporters."
Video: Rep. Pody News Conference before the vote:
WSMV TV 4 news reports:
A bill seeking to block the U.S. Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling in Tennessee has been defeated in a subcommittee of the state House over concerns about nullifying federal rulings.
The five-member panel defeated the measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark Pody on a voice vote on Wednesday.
Republican Rep. Mike Carter of Chattanooga said that while he disagrees with the high court's ruling, he considered the bill to turn back the ruling a step too far. In Carter's words: "I equate nullification with anarchy."
http://www.wsmv.com/story/31016029/house-panel-rejects-bill-blocking-gay-marriage-in-tennessee
House panel rejects bill blocking gay marriage in Tennessee
A bill seeking to block the U.S. Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling in Tennessee was defeated Wednesday in the state House over concerns about nullifying federal rulings.
The Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 4-1 against the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act sponsored by Republican Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon, who argued that the ruling should not supersede an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
More than 80 percent of Tennessee voters approved that amendment in 2006 that included a provision to declare that any judicial interpretation to the contrary "shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee."
Last year's Supreme Court decision was based on cases in four states including Tennessee, where three couples had sued to have their out-of-state marriages recognized.
Republican Rep. Mike Carter of Chattanooga said that although he disagrees with the high court's ruling, he considered the proposal to be a step too far.
"Nullification scares the daylights out of me," Carter said. "Because no one will answer me who has the authority to nullify, and nobody will answer me where that authority is derived."
Carter was among two Republicans and two Democrats who voted against the bill. Republican Rep Jim Coley, the panel's chairman from the Memphis suburb of Bartlett, was the lone vote in favor of the bill.