Respect for Marriage Act – All but Passed at the Federal Level!
- What is the Respect for Marriage Act?
- The misnamed Respect for Marriage Act codifies in federal law an incorrect understanding of marriage. And it enables litigation against those who disagree.
- While proponents of the bill claim that it merely enshrines the 2015 Obergefell decision (the courts invented a Constitutional “right” to same-sex marriage), in reality it is a direct attack on the religious freedom of millions of Americans with sincerely held beliefs about marriage.
- The Respect for Marriage Act threatens religious freedom and the institution of marriage in multiple ways:
- It further embeds a false definition of marriage in the American legal fabric.
- It opens the door to federal recognition of polygamous relationships.
- It jeopardizes the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that exercise their belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. (Churches!)
- It could make religious freedom and free speech cases harder to win. There are no protections for religious individuals or organizations.
- It could result in predatory litigation by activists against faith-based social-service organizations that could mire Americans in courts for years to vindicate their rights under the First Amendment. The IRS could conclude certain nonprofits are not “charitable”.
- The truth is the Respect for Marriage Act does nothing to change the status of same-sex marriage or the benefits afforded to same-sex couples following Obergefell. It does much, however, to endanger religious freedom.
- Has it Passed?
- On July 19, 2022, the House passed the Respect for Marriage Act. The vote caught many by surprise: not only did it happen quickly—just one day after the bill was introduced—but 47 Republicans, many of whom likely did not appreciate the threat it posed to religious liberty, voted in favor of the bill.
- On Nov. 29, 2022, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act as amended with insufficient protections for religious freedom. In doing so, the Senate rejected three proposed amendments that would have added more meaningful religious liberty protections to the bill. Twelve Republicans joined the Democrats to vote in favor of the bill. These senators cited the addition of the inadequate religious liberty protections to justify their vote.
- Because the bill was amended by the Senate, it went back to the House which voted 258 to 169 on Dec 8th, 2022 to pass this Bill.
- Biden has already indicated he will sign the bill.
Elections and Beginnings of the 2023 Arizona State Congress
- Federal House – As stated previously, the Republicans did capture majority in the House with a 221 to 213 with one seat still remaining open. Colorado District 43 is performing a recount requested and paid for by the Republican who fell behind by a mere 405 votes. Mandatory recounts (like in Arizona) are only performed if the race is won by less that 0.5%.
- Federal Senate – Last week saw the results of the Georgia runoff providing the Democrats with the majority in the Senate 51 to 49. It is interesting to note that our very own Senator Krysten Sinema changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent last week as well; however, she also indicated she plans to continue to sit with the Democrat Party as far as caucus’ and committee’s. Just as the Independents in the House tend to vote with the Democrats.
- Statewide Elections results were certified/signed on Monday Dec 5th by Katie Hobbs (current Secretary of State, who certified herself as Governor of our state), and witnessed by our current governor Doug Ducey, Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, a Ducey appointee. The results are not what we had hoped at the Governor and Senate level as these candidates do not support our Biblical Values of Faith, Family and Freedom.
- While lawsuits have been filed challenging these results, Abe Hamadeh’s case for the AG seat has already been thrown out of court, but given he was only behind Kris Mayes by 510 votes, there will be a mandator recount of the AG seat (as well as the Superintendent of Public Instruction and one Arizona legislative seat). Kari Lake has a staff of lawyers collecting evidence and filing law suits to support her claim of electoral process misconduct including direct statements from the President of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors stating the “chaos on Election Day”, when the preponderance of voters at the polls are commonly known to be Republicans.
- Regardless of how these challenges turn out, the Government Impact Team continues to encourage all to have Faith that God is in Control and we are empowered with the Spirit that lives within each of our Christian hearts that bear witness to God as our One Redeemer and Savior.
- From David, Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
- Included in these statewide races was the Arizona House and Senate seats. Again, as mentioned in the last newsletter the Republicans have maintained a majority in both chambers; however, it is by only one seat in each chamber.
- The Arizona Senate has already elected Warren Peterson as President-Elect of our AZ State Senate.
- With that he has also already chosen Committee leaders which I have provided below for any pressing issues you may have in the next session of our State Congress starting January 2023. Should you have any questions/concerns with laws or activities in these subject areas – we encourage you to write to your congressman (Follow this link for Contact info for AZ Senate) and please copy these leaders of the committees below as appropriate for the highest impact to address your concerns.
- While it may seem the elections are barely over, our House and Senate leaders are actively working on initiatives to present for Committees as early as the first week of January. President Peterson has already provided plans for at least 4 initiatives he wants our legislature to consider to combat our rising inflation costs.
Committee on Appropriations Committee on Commerce Senator-Elect John Kavanagh Senator-Elect Steve Kaiser Committee on Education Committee on Elections Senator-Elect Ken Bennett Senator Wendy Rogers Committee on Finance Committee on Government Senator J.D. Mesnard Senator-Elect Jake Hoffman Committee on Health & Human Services Committee on Judiciary Senator T.J. Shope Senator-Elect Anthony Kern Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety & Border Security Senator David Gowan Committee on Transportation & Technology Senator-Elect David Farnsworth Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water Senator Sine Kerr Committee on Rules President-Elect Warren Petersen