The Federal Marriage Amendment was defeated in the House of Representatives last Thursday, falling 49 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass it. The amendment, introduced by Rep Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), would have prohibited same-sex marriage and denied the legal benefit of marriage to all unmarried couples. The amendment would have also preempted all state constitutions, denying states the right to decide who can get married within their borders, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The amendment had been denounced by the Democratic party as being a divisive and prejudiced pre-election ploy, according to the Washington Post. Indeed, many Republicans conceded that the purpose of the amendment was to ensure that Democratic opponents were forced to go on the record with their beliefs about same-sex marriage before the upcoming election on November 2.
The Washington Post reports that there has been a stream of conservative causes brought before the House in recent months. Bills passed by the House include the repeal of most of the gun laws in the District of Columbia, a bill that would bar federal courts from even considering challenges to the phrase “under God” in the nation’s Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a flag-protection constitutional amendment. All of these proposals face serious opposition in the Senate.
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
