Senate Republicans yesterday voted against a bill that would enshrine protections for gay marriage after a Supreme Court opinion signaled marriage equality rights could be at risk
Yesterday, Idaho’s Republican Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine marriage equality in federal law, repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and provide additional protections for marriage equality.
“Idaho couples should be able to make decisions about marriage — a personal commitment to care for one another — without interference from the government. And no family should have to worry that their marriage will be voided if they travel across state lines. It’s extremely disappointing that Senators Crapo and Risch voted against protecting these basic freedoms. Idaho’s Republican senators are on the wrong side of history and at odds with the Idahoans they are supposed to represent. Many more Idahoans support marriage equality than oppose it.” said Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea.
Yesterday’s vote on the Respect for Marriage Act follows the Supreme Court’s decision to ignore 50 years of precedent to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states like Idaho to outlaw abortion, and potentially target other rights, such as the right to same-sex marriage and the right to contraception. Despite these clear threats to Idahoans’ fundamental rights, both of Idaho’s Republican Senators, and 36 total Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted against legislation to protect marriage equality from conservative judges.
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For more information or interview requests, contact:
Avery Roberts, Communications Director for the Idaho Democratic Party
208-305-5610 or avery@idahodems.org
