PRESS RELEASE
SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
DALE R. FOLWELL
919-733-5787
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
PAUL “SKIP” STAM
919-733-2962
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2011
Raleigh – A Marriage Amendment will be considered during the legislative session starting September 12th.
Amendment Stronger than Statute
A constitutional amendment is needed for several reasons. The most important reason is because voters have been demanding the right to vote on such a major issue since at least 2003. It was the first year an amendment was introduced, sponsored by Democratic leaders (see other handouts). Secondly, the state’s current statutes are insufficient in the current legal environment. The definition of marriage is the foundation to society. It should not be left to one activist judge to write its definition. Thirdly, it’s a legislator’s responsibility to put such an important decision in the voters’ hands.
“Whether you’re Democratic or Republican, why wouldn’t you want to do everything possible to represent the people of your district,” Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth said. “This amendment pushes power away from Raleigh and to the people of North Carolina.”
“In 1994 the General Assembly reformed the policy that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” House Majority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, said. “Legal developments from other states require that this policy be in the Constitution in order to be fully effective.”
Bottom Line
It’s the legislature’s responsibility to offer long-term solutions to the issues facing North Carolina. The only long-term solution to the marriage issue is to put the question to the voters. They have been demanding the opportunity to vote on an amendment for almost 10 years. It’s time they get it.
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