GOP Re-Introduces Bill To Block Federal Recognition Of Out-Of-State Marriages

"Even though the Supreme Court made clear in United States v. Windsor that the federal government should defer to state ‘choices about who may be married,’ the Obama Administration has disregarded state marriage laws enacted by democratically elected legislatures to uphold traditional marriage. I support traditional marriage and we should reject attempts by the Obama Administration to force same-sex marriage on all 50 states. The State Marriage Defense Act helps safeguard the ability of states to preserve traditional marriage for their citizens." - Sen. Ted Cruz, announcing the reintroduction of a bill that would block the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages conducted outside the state in which the couple resides.

Rep. Randy Weber yesterday re-introduced the same bill in the House, where it died in committee last year after fewer than 25% of GOP House reps bothered to sign on as cosponsors. At this writing the Senate version of the bill has 11 cosponsors including Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL). The House version of the bill has 23 cosponsors including Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), who in 2012 was exposed as having committed adultery many, many times. The bill would obviously be made moot by a positive ruling from the Supreme Court, but they've got to keep the Teabagistan base happy.

The Human Rights Campaign reacts:

The bill would callously strip federal rights and benefits from married same-sex couples – like federal employee health benefits, military spouse benefits, immigration rights, and many others – simply because of the state in which they currently live. In the name of protecting “states’ rights,” the bill would take spousal benefits away from the wife of a soldier serving in Afghanistan if she and their children were stationed in a state without marriage equality. In order to “defend marriage,” his legislation would force a grieving widower to pay an unfair tax on his husband’s estate, simply because the couple had retired nearer to grandchildren in their golden years. This legislation would make our nation’s already-unfair patchwork of laws even more burdensome for same-sex couples, and undermine the promise of equal treatment embodied in the historic Windsor decision.

GOP Rep. Randy Weber Reintroduces Bill To Ban Feds From Recognizing Out-Of-State Same-Sex Marriages

With the intent of preventing Texas gays from bringing home their filthy marriage rights, yesterday Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) reintroduced the State Marriage Defense Act, which would ban the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages conducted outside of the state in which the couple resides. Weber first introduced the bill in January 2014, but it died in a House subcommittee after fewer than 25% of Republicans bothered to sign on as cosponsors. On Monday, Weber appeared on the Family Research Council's radio show, where he expressed optimism that the bill will do better this time due to GOP control of both chambers. According to Weber, Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee will advocate for the bill. Weber: "Then we'll see what the president does with it. But I'm not hold my breath for the president to sign it."

RELATED: Yesterday Weber earned nationwide ridicule after comparing the president to Adolf Hitler. Weber issued an apology later in the day.

Teabagger Rep: Even Hitler Went To Paris

RELATED:  Weber, you might recall, is the author of the House bill that would ban the federal government from recognizing any same-sex marriage conducted outside the state where the married couple resides. The bill died in committee after fewer than 25% of GOP House members signed on as cosponsors. Weber, of course, is a Tea Party hero and BFF of Tony Perkins.

UPDATE: JMG reader Rebecca points out that Weber issued an apology this afternoon.

“I need to first apologize to all those offended by my tweet. It was not my intention to trivialize the Holocaust nor to compare the President to Adolf Hitler. The mention of Hitler was meant to represent the face of evil that still exists in the world today. I now realize that the use of Hitler invokes pain and emotional trauma for those affected by the atrocities of the Holocaust and victims of anti-Semitism and hate.

The terrorist attacks in Paris should remind us of the evil that still exists. Hitler was the face of evil, perpetrating genocide against six million Jews and millions of other victims. Today, we are facing the evil of Islamic extremists who are attempting to instill fear and murdering the lives of innocent people from Paris to Nigeria to Jerusalem and all over the world. The President’s actions or lack thereof is my point of contention. Islamic extremists have shown they are not going away, and instead are hungry for more blood.

After World War II, the world made a commitment to ‘Never Again’ allow terror free reign. As demonstrated by the Paris Peace Rally, we must all –Christians, Jews, Muslims, leaders around the world and those willing to fight for freedom – unite and stand strong together against radical extremism in any form."

Quote Of The Day - Hadley Arkes

"In the aftermath of the decision in the Sixth Circuit, some have been inhaling the heady fumes arising from Judge Sutton’s dramatic break, and they seem earnestly to be cultivating the hope that Justice Kennedy might indeed be cajoled and persuaded. But we would waste the gift that Judge Sutton gave us if we diverted ourselves at this moment with that kind of illusion. Justice Kennedy will not be cajoled even by these overdone gestures to placate him. What Judge Sutton has given us is a decision that breaks the momentum of the other side. It conveys, with a jolt, that this issue of marriage and the law has not really been 'settled.' Not yet. Judge Sutton, as I say, has bought us time. But time for what? The decision in DeBoer has opened up the possibility for something serious to be done on the political side. This is the moment for Congress to put its hand in, as it did with real effect 18 years ago with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). And as in 1996 we will have again, come January, a Congress containing, in its governing majority, the men and women willing to act on the matter of marriage." - Self-proclaimed "DOMA architect" Hadley Arkes, writing for the National Review.

RELATED: In the above-linked post, Arkes dismisses Sen. Ted Cruz' vow to implement a federal constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. According the Arkes, the anti-gay way forward lies in the House bill introduced in January by Rep. Randy Weber, which would limit federal recognition of any same-sex marriage to the state in which it was conducted. As of today, that nearly year-old bill remains mired in committee and only 25% of sitting House Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors. I pointed that out in the comments of Arkes' post and my response was promptly deleted. Snork!

Human Rights Campaign Inducts 19 Members Of Congress Into Hall Of Shame

The Human Rights Campaign today announced the induction of 19 member of Congress into its Hall Of Shame for anti-LGBT actions.

“If you want to understand why LGBT equality has hit a roadblock in Congress, you don't need to look any further than these leaders of anti-LGBT obstruction and animus,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Government Affairs Director. “These members go out of their way to oppose any step toward equal protection under the law or to protect LGBT Americans from violence, discrimination and harassment. They proactively work to undermine existing legal protections and promote anti-LGBT discrimination.”

Released in advance of the HRC Scorecard for the 113th Congress, HRC identified these elected officials as the most anti-equality members of Congress by looking at their voting records in this and previous Congresses, their introduction and co-sponsorships of anti-LGBT legislation, and their public statements. While there are other anti-LGBT members of Congress, these elected officials’ legislative actions, votes and anti-LGBT vitriol unfortunately marks them with a modern day scarlet letter.

The only Democrat on the list, Rep. Mike McIntrye, has signed Rep. Randy Weber's laughably doomed bill that would limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are legally conducted in the state where the married couple resides. McIntrye is retiring after the current term.

FRC's Prayer Of The Day

Today's "prayer target" from the Family Research Council:

Lord, intervene to prevent evil from overcoming what you have forever declared to be good! Help the U.S. Senate to pass the State Marriage Defense Act (S. 2024) to protect each state's right to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman and prevent the federal government from undermining a state's definition of marriage (Ex 18:21; 2 Sam 23:3; Ps 2:10-12; Is 10:1; 64:1-4; Mt 19:4-6; Rom 12:21; 2 Pet 2:1).

Rep. Randy Weber's hilariously doomed bill now has a meager 60 cosponsors in the House. All are Republicans except retiring Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC). Among the cosponsors is GOP Rep. Scott "Sanctity Of Marriage DesJarlais (R-TN), who was exposed in 2012 for having had six adulterous affairs, some of which were with patients of his medical practice. Praise! Glory! Rampant adultery!

Hate Group Leader Peter Sprigg Pens Op-Ed Published By Salt Lake Tribune

"The last few weeks have been a roller coaster for marriage law in Utah. On Dec. 13, U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups vindicated years of slippery slope arguments by opponents of marriage redefinition by declaring the state’s law criminalizing polygamous cohabitation to be unconstitutional. One week later, on Dec. 20, another U.S. District Court judge, Robert J. Shelby, declared that Utah’s state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman violates the U.S. Constitution. Officials in Utah began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately. [snip]

"That problem is solved by the State Marriage Defense Act, which provides that a marriage will not be recognized by the federal government if it is not recognized by the state in which a person lives. Every American’s marital status in the eyes of the federal government would be the same as in the eyes of the state where he or she lives. This is consistent with both the Windsor ruling and what it called the States’ 'historic and essential authority to define the marital relation.' It would also mitigate the confusion and chaos created in Utah by one federal judge and Attorney General Holder." - FRC vice president and hate group leader Peter Sprigg, in an op-ed published today by the Salt Lake Tribune.

RELATED: Sprigg has appeared on national television to declare that "there should be criminal sanctions for homosexuality" and that LGBT Americans should be "exported" out of the country. I encourage you to hit the link and leave some educational comments. And don't forget Sprigg's KKK-affiliated boss, Tony Perkins.

ALSO RELATED: 52 Republicans and one (retiring this year) Democrat have now cosponsored Rep. Randy Weber's so-called State Marriage Defense Act, which Weber openly admits was written by the Family Research Council. Among the latest cosponsors is Rep. Paul "Evolution Is A Lie From Satan" Broun (R-GA.) That brings the total of cosponsors to a pathetic 12% of the US House, almost one month after the bill's introduction.

HVAC Repairman At The SOTU...

This is how Family Research Council puppet and former HVAC repairman Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) expressed himself before the State Of The Union address.

Rep. Randy Weber Confirms: My Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Was Written By The FRC

Two weeks ago former HVAC repairman Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) introduced a House bill that would limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are conducted legally in the state in which the married couple resides. In my first report on the bill, I wrote: "The only previous House legislation authored by Weber is a failed 2013 resolution which declared that 'extensive scientific studies' have found the Keystone pipeline to be 'environmentally sound.' Which means, of course, that the FRC surely had a hand in writing today's bill." Yesterday Weber confirmed that the bill was indeed written by the Family Research Council and Concerned Women Of America. Thanks to Jeremy Hooper at Good As You for finding the clip. The bill remains stalled with 38 cosponsors, which is a whopping 8% of the U.S. House.

FRC Prays For Marriage Ban Bill

The Family Research Council is asking its supporters to pray that God helps Rep. Randy Weber succeed with his bill to ban the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages that were conducted in states other than those in which the married couple resides. 

State Marriage Protection Act - The Supreme Court decision that overturned part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) enabled the Obama administration to provide federal benefits to same-sex couples (more than 1,000 laws and benefits apply to "spouses"). But the ruling did not clarify whether the federal government's recognition of homosexual "marriage" applied to where the marriage was celebrated or where the spouses reside.

Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) has introduced the State Marriage Protection Act to clarify the right of States to define marriage and who is and is not qualified to obtain marriage benefits. Thankfully, Indiana is moving toward placing a marriage amendment on the ballot, but the bill has been bottled up in committee. Will the majority party in charge, which has a clear pro-marriage statement in their platform, have the political will to move forward? Let's pray that they do so that the people can vote. 

Pray over each of these situations that marriage will be fully and successfully protected in the law, in the state constitutions, and in the courts, and that lawlessness will be restrained (Gen 2:20-24; Is 10:1 ff; Mt 19:5-6; Eph 5:25, 31-32; Php 1:7, 17; 2 Th 2:7).

In response, I prayed that the sun wouldn't explode this morning and destroy the Earth. You're welcome.

Retiring Democrat Joins 36 GOP House Reps In Backing Bill To Ban Feds From Recognizing Out-Of-State Marriages

Rep. Mike McIntrye (D-NC) announced his retirement this week so he figures he's got nothing to lose by joining 36 teabaggers in cosponsoring Rep. Randy Weber's laughably doomed bill that would limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are legally conducted in the state where the married couple resides. McIntyre has a 10% rating from the HRC, so this parting "fuck you" isn't exactly a surprise.

RELATED: Counting McIntyre, the bill has picked up ten more cosponsors since its introduction last Friday. Among the latest signees is Rep. Scott "Sanctity Of Marriage" DesJarlais (R-TN), who in November 2012 was exposed for having affairs with at least six women. Two of the women were patients under the care of Doctor DesJarlais. Praise! Glory! Gangbang!

27 GOP House Reps Co-Sponsor Randy Weber's Bill To Ban Federal Recognition Of Out-Of-State Same-Sex Marriages

Yesterday House Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) introduced a laughably doomed bill that would limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are legally conducted in the state where the married couple resides. Since the bill's introduction, 27 GOP members of the House have signed on as co-sponsors. The list so far is a cavalcade of crackpottery: Michele Bachmann, Louis Gohmert, John Fleming, etc. Eleven of the 27 co-sponsors are from Texas.

SWeber, a freshman rep and former air conditioner repairman, has previously only authored one failed House resolution. Therefore I suspect his bill was actually written by the Family Research Council, who jointly announced its introduction yesterday with an appearance by Weber on Tony Perkins' national radio show. Other anti-gay hate groups are today praising the bill, including NOM, which posted the below message today on their blog.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today expressed its support for a bill announced in Congress yesterday, the “State Marriage Defense Act of 2014” (HR 3829), and praised Representative Randy Weber (R-TX) for authoring and introducing “this vitally important legislation.” “Representative Weber deserves praise for this vitally important legislation which will lend clarity to the way states’ marriage laws are dealt with by federal agencies,” said Brian Brown, NOM’s President. “The bill simply reaffirms and strengthens the rights reserved by the states under the US constitution.” Brown also said that the bill is based upon a proper understanding of last summer’s decision by the Supreme Court in the Windsor case that struck down one facet of the law but supported states’ rights to determine their own definition of marriage.

Wonkette today posted a typically fabulous reaction.

Given that even Utah briefly recognized gay marriage, we are pretty sure that this legislation isn’t going to go anywhere, let alone have a chance in hell of passing the Senate with Harry Reid being the badass that he is. However, it is a good reminder that there has always and forever been only one form of marriage which is between a man with a PENIS and a woman with governmentally regulated LADYPARTS the GOP continues to hate on the gays in new and inventive ways. We have no idea if this bill deals with age-of-marriage laws, which also differ between states, but we guess that so long as that 12-year-old GIRL is marrying a 40-year-old MAN, Weber and his ilk are probably totes cool with it, because that is WAY MOAR BETTERER than two consenting adult menfolk doin’ it in the butt.

GOP House Rep. Randy Weber Introduces Bill To Ban Feds From Recognizing Out-Of-State Same-Sex Marriages

Freshman U.S. House Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), a former HVAC repairman who won the seat vacated by retiring fellow crackpot Ron Paul, has introduced a bill he calls the State Marriage Defense Act. The bill appears to limit the federal government to only recognizing same-sex marriages that are conducted legally in the state where the married couple resides. From Weber's website:

The State Marriage Defense Act will simply require federal agencies to look to a person’s legal residence when determining marital status and application of federal law. The 10th Amendment was established to protect state sovereignty and individual rights from being seized by the Federal Government. For too long, however, the Federal Government has slowly been eroding state’s rights by promulgating rules and regulations through federal agencies. I drafted the State Marriage Defense Act of 2014 to help restore the 10th Amendment, affirm the authority of states to define and regulate marriage, as well as, provide clarity to federal agencies seeking to determine who qualifies as a spouse for the purpose of federal law. By requiring that the Federal Government defer to the laws of a person’s state of legal residence in determining marital status, we can protect states’ constitutionally established powers from the arbitrary overreach of unelected bureaucrats.

KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins is cheering:

Family Research Council strongly supported the Defense of Marriage Act, and disagreed with the Court's decision in Windsor. However, if the federal government is required to defer to state determinations of which of their residents are "married," it must defer to those determinations in all fifty states – not just those that have redefined marriage. The State Marriage Defense Act is consistent with the ruling in Windsor, which reiterated that states have the "historic and essential authority to define the marital relation." The current Obama administration policy is doing the very thing which the Court condemned – "creating two contradictory marriage regimes within the same State."  The State Marriage Defense Act serves to protect state definitions of marriage against what the Court called efforts "to put a thumb on the scales and influence a state's decision as to how to shape its own marriage laws."

I can't yet quote from Weber's bill as it hasn't been posted to the House website. The only previous House legislation authored by Weber is a failed 2013 resolution which declared that "extensive scientific studies" have found the Keystone pipeline to be "environmentally sound." Which means, of course, that the FRC surely had a hand in writing today's bill. Weber has a 100% approval rating from the virulently anti-gay Heritage Foundation. He will appear tonight on Tony Perkins' nationally syndicated radio show.

UPDATE: The Family Research Council just published a petition for their supporters to call on other members of the House to co-sponsor Weber's bill.