Idaho Lawmaker Proposes Supreme Court Reconsideration
An Idaho state representative has introduced a proposal urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. The proposal, presented by Rep. Tony Wisniewski from Post Falls, aims to challenge the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
Details of the Proposal
Rep. Wisniewski introduced a joint memorial, which serves as a formal request from the Idaho Legislature rather than a law. The memorial seeks to have the Supreme Court overturn its decision, which requires states to recognize marriages between same-sex couples. The House State Affairs Committee approved the introduction of this proposal, allowing it to proceed to a full public hearing.
Background and Legislative History
In 2006, Idaho voters passed an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, this amendment was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in 2014, permitting same-sex marriage in Idaho before the nationwide legalization in 2015.
Last year, a similar memorial was passed by the Idaho House of Representatives but did not progress in the Senate. The current proposal reflects ongoing efforts by some lawmakers to revisit the issue.
Committee Discussions and Amendments
During the committee meeting, Rep. Heather Scott proposed an amendment to remove a sentence from the memorial. The sentence in question suggested that marriage had been defined as a union between a man and a woman as part of the “Anglo-American legal tradition” for over 800 years. This change was made following concerns raised by Rep. Monica Church, who argued that the phrase implied marriage was historically about subjugating women.
Supreme Court’s Previous Stance
In November, the Supreme Court declined to revisit the Obergefell decision despite a challenge from former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who had refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This decision by the high court left the 2015 ruling intact.
Implications and Future Steps
The introduction of this joint memorial signals ongoing debates within Idaho regarding the definition of marriage. If the proposal advances, it could prompt further discussions at both state and national levels. The outcome of the public hearing will determine the next steps for this legislative effort.
Related Coverage
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