Stay Informed!

Josephs agrees with Rep. Boyd: marriage amendment is a no-go

HARRISBURG, Dec. 3 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is confirming recent news reports that say legislation that would define marriage in the state constitution won't be considered while she is chairwoman of the House State Government Committee.

On Sunday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that while anti-gay-marriage activists were renewing their efforts to seek a constitutional amendment defining marriage solely as between a man and woman, a Republican legislator and backer of the legislation said it would be "virtually impossible" to get it out of committee.

Rep. Scott Boyd acknowledged that Josephs was one of the most outspoken critics of the legislation, and said because she chairs the House State Government Committee, the bill most likely wouldn't be considered.

"I'm pleased that Representative Boyd recognizes my unyielding stance on this issue and I hope others who are supporting this proposed constitutional amendment realize it, as well. I will oppose and continue to oppose anything that would restrict legal rights for Commonwealth citizens."

Josephs said the legislation would make second-class citizens of many Pennsylvanians, not just gay and lesbian residents, and the committee's time could be better spent improving lives rather than harming them.

"As chairwoman, I am focusing the efforts of the State Government Committee on such important state issues as revising the state's right-to-know law, ensuring state investments are not used to facilitate genocide of a people, removing barriers to voting, ensuring honest elections, ending discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation, and improving the campaign finance law, to name a few," Josephs said.

"The committee is one of the busiest, second only to the Appropriations, Transportation and Judiciary committees. Considering a proposed constitutional amendment that would discriminate against citizens is a waste of the committee's valuable time."

The House State Government Committee reviews legislation on issues ranging from voting and elections to campaign finance reform and oversees the State Employees' Retirement System, the state lottery commission, state land conveyances, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations and Women's commissions. As chairwoman, Josephs sets the committee's legislative agenda for the two-year session.