Michigan Republicans tell state to stop recognising equal marriage
Republicans are trying to force the state of Michigan to violate the Constitution by ignoring the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
The Supreme Court ruled over the summer that same-sex marriage is a constitutionally-protected right, cementing marriages in all 50 states.
Defying the ruling has not generally ended well – with Kentucky clerk Kim Davis briefly jailed for contempt of court after she defied court orders in order by blocking gay weddings.
However, Republicans are now trying to get the entire state of Michigan to defy the ruling.
A resolution submitted by Tom Hooker, who sits in the Michigan House of Representatives, says: “It is the sense of the Michigan Legislature that the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges is illegitimate because the five justice majority, in reaching its decision, acted without constitutional authority and unconstitutionally usurped power expressly reserved by the United States Constitution to the states and the people.
“Under these circumstances, it is the duty of the politically accountable branches of the federal and state governments to preserve and protect constitutional governance under the rule of law.
“We urge the Governor and all executive officers in the state of Michigan to uphold their oaths of office and re-claim this state’s sovereignty by not recognizing or enforcing the United States Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision as a rule of law.”
Hooker told MLive: “The Supreme Court is not a Legislature.
“Courts do not substitute their social and economic beliefs for the judgement of legislative bodies or elected and passed laws.”
The bill’s co-sponsor, rep. Lee Chatfield added: “Make no mistake, when government destroys God, government becomes God.
“And that should be a frightening thing for the United States of America and the state of Michigan.”
Democrats in the state have opposed the measure.
