Although national politics are pretty meaty right now, I want to take a moment to discuss Indiana's state legislature.
Or as the late, great Harrison Ullmann once called them: "America's worst state legislature." (any errors in this quote are all mine ... Harrison was one of a kind)
This time I am really pissed off.
Today an amendment was filed onto HJR-1 to bar same sex marriage by Asst. House Minority Leader Eric Turner of Gas City (see article below). The original bill was to cap property taxes for homeowners at 1% of gross assessed value. Now with the amendment, it appears that the House Democrats either have to: a) call down the bill for a vote with the amendment tacked on, effectively forcing a vote on same sex marriage (which is, by the by, already illegal according to the constitution) or b) not vote on the bill which leaves the House Ds open to criticism on not being for property tax reform.
Definite kudos to Eric Miller and Micah Clark for the slam dunk on most efficient way to wedgewhack! a legislative session.
I, personally, am in favor of marriage for all who wish to seek it. Marriage to me is just as sacred regardless of whom is participating. Ultimately, though, I believe that marriage is much more of a CIVIL institution than a religious one. For example, the IRS. Do they care if you are gay when you file your taxes? No. They care whether you are married, single, head of household, etc. What about joint property holdings? Much a civil matter. Children? Since when has having children been based on sexuality, let alone responsibility? A lesbian woman or a gay man can easily mother/father a child ... ask me, I can point out plenty that I know that have. What about caregiving rights ... ah, this is where it becomes sticky. Look to the Adkins family for a prime example of why I believe that whether you are gay, straight, transgendered, etc ... you should be able to be married. And no, I'm not a fan of 'civil unions' unless all marriages are called 'civil unions.' Sounds a whole lot like separate but equal ... see Brown v. Board of Education for how that turned out.
Anyhoo, my hackles are up, I'm pissed off and getting on the email to my legislator now. It won't matter, he is one of the wedgewhackers but I will be glad to give him a piece of my mind anyhoo.
http://www.advanceindiana.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 28, 2008
House GOP Kills Property Tax Amendment To Advance Gay Hate
The House Republican caucus led by Rep. Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has chosen to kill a constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to limit property taxes on homesteads to 1% of the gross assessed value, HJR-1, by choosing to file an amendment to it to bar same-sex marriages and the recognition of any of the legal incidents of marriage for unmarried couples, whether straight or gay. The mean-spirited, discriminatory amendment has been filed by a member of Bosma's leadership team, Assistant House Minority Leader Eric Turner (R-Gas City). It contradicts an earlier claim by Bosma that property taxes would be given the highest priority this session.The filing of the amendment by Turner has effectively killed Gov. Daniels' proposed constitutional amendment to permanently cap property taxes for homeowners. House Speaker Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) and his House Rules Committee Chairman Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) announced earlier this session that the House would not be hearing SJR-7, the controversial gay marriage amendment which the House Rules Committee voted down last year. House Republicans have placed a higher priority in writing discrimination into our state's constitution than in writing into it permanent tax relief for the state's homeowners.Sadly, two other members of Bosma's caucus, Rep. Jeff Thompson (R) and Rep. Jackie Walorski (R), have effectively killed proposed hate crimes legislation, HB 1076, by filing killer amendments to the bill. The bill's chief author, Rep. Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis), has refused to call down HB 1076 because of the controversial amendments the two lawmakers have filed to the bill at the request of religious right leaders Eric Miller of Advance America and Micah Clark of the American Family Association of Indiana. Continuing opposition from the fundamentalist extremists is based on bogus claims that the legislation will create "special rights" for "homosexuals and cross-dressers" by allowing a court to impose harsher sentences on persons who commit crimes against a person because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that it will impede the "free speech rights" of ministers to speak out against homosexuality. Indiana is one of only five states in the nation without a hate crimes law, putting our state in the sad company of Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia and Wyoming.
Posted by Advance Indiana at 6:37 PM
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