Saturday, February 18, 2006
Senate OKs amendment to safeguard marriage law
Related
roanoke.com/politics
RICHMOND -- The Senate voted Friday to put a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages and civil unions on a ballot issue before Virginia voters this fall.
House Joint Resolution 41 passed on a 29-11 vote. Last month the Senate passed an identical resolution sponsored by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, and Friday's vote was in large part a formality.
The Senate also passed identical resolutions last year, as the process to amend the Virginia Constitution requires that identically worded measures be passed two years in a row.
Though Virginia law already prohibits same-sex marriages, supporters of the amendment insist a constitutional change is needed to safeguard the law against "activist judges" in federal courts and ensure that Virginia won't have to recognize gay marriages or civil unions performed in other states.
Opponents have argued that the amendment will enshrine discrimination into the Virginia Constitution and likely create legal difficulties regarding its language addressing contractual relationships.
The Senate version of the resolution, SJ 92, is expected to be heard by the House Privileges and Elections committee next week.
The Senate also voted unanimously to approve an amended version of House Bill 101, which sets the language for November's referendum on HJ 41. The amendment, attached Wednesday in a committee meeting, would include the language of the proposed constitutional amendment.
Newman spoke in favor of the amended HB 101, saying that it would help deflect at least one argument from opponents of the constitutional amendment.
"If we don't do this I believe we'll be in a discussion about whether or not we're trying to hide anything," Newman said. "I don't want to hide anything."
"I hope this starts the debate in such a way that we say, 'OK, we've given everything we can. It's right there in front of you. Please vote that marriage is between one man and one woman,' " Newman said.
-- Mason Adams
Bill adds deputies to state retirement plan
The Senate voted unanimously Friday to approve legislation to enroll sheriff's deputies around the state to a state retirement plan.
In addition to bringing sheriff's deputies into the Law Enforcement Officers' Retirement System, Senate Bill 393 will increase benefits for state police officers already enrolled in the program and provide an opportunity for local sheriff's offices to do the same.
Seventy-nine sheriff's offices already offer the LEOs; 43 do not, according to John Jones, executive director of the Virginia Sheriff's Association.
Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Henry County, expressed concern the plan will exclude parole officers not already enrolled in LEOs and suggested that future legislation should be introduced to address that.
-- Mason Adams
