House panel votes to ban same-sex marriages on US military bases

House panel votes to ban same-sex marriages on US military bases
Fox News -- Published May 10, 2012


Right in the middle of next years $642 billion defense bill, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee backed an amendment that barred same-sex marriages or "marriage-like" ceremonies on military installations.

This was not a vote on a bill, it was a Committee action only, and is part of the overall defense bill for next year.

But it still sent a negative message to Obama ?

WASHINGTON – On the same day that President Barack Obama declared his support for same-sex marriage, the House Armed Services Committee backed measures prohibiting the practice on U.S. military bases.

The panel stepped into the gays in the military issue as it considered a sweeping, $642 billion defense bill for next year that buys new weapons, ships and aircraft, increases military pay by 1.7 percent and sets policies for the Pentagon. The committee worked through the day Wednesday and into the early morning Thursday on the legislation that adds billions of dollars to the president's budget request.

The committee fleshed out a blueprint for next year that calls for a base defense budget of $554 billion, including nuclear weapons spending, plus $88 billion for the war in Afghanistan and counterterrorism efforts. That compares with the administration's proposal of $551 billion, plus $88 billion.

There was some "sparring" between House members:

"The president has repealed `don't ask, don't tell' and is using the military as props to promote his gay agenda," said Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who is running for Senate.

In an odd exchange, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., questioned what would happen if a service member literally interpreted the Old Testament's Leviticus, which considers homosexuality an abomination. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., disputed her contention that was part of the Bible, saying it was the Old Testament.

"Members of this committee are looking to turn back the clock and find new ways to discriminate against gay and lesbian service members," said Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the committee. "These men and women serve with honor and distinction and this amendment sends a message that their service is not valued."

House panel votes to ban same-sex marriages on US military bases

Ah, so funny that the US gov thinks it has nothing better else to do than waste even an hour of their time on something like this.

A complete non issue is somehow taken over, happens every 3 months or so so they don't have to focus on the actual important topics of the day.

Who cares about the gays anymore? I'll tell you who, the people that these policies do not affect, that's who.

It's super easy to make rules that discriminate against a minority if you are part of the larger majority. The fact that they quote bible verses in this is also quite ludicrous, considering the separation of church and state..

Really though, what a huge waste of time and tax payer money.

~Tenth

reply to post by xuenchen


I cannot believe how these homo issues are dominating the media right now, especially when there are so many other issues, that are far more important to deal with.
So far, in this failed presidents term, his claims to fame are Obama care, gays in the military and now supporting gay marriage.
His priorities are way off but he gets away with it because hes half black.

Think of all the time and money and stress that could be saved if government just stayed out of peoples personal lives.

Virtually every social problem would go away over night.

Can't have that though. Certainly not in the land of the free.

Tom Head sums it all up very nicely and concludes that there is no rational argument for government involvement in marriage whatsoever. Yet it refuses to let it alone. Whether coming out for or against homosexual marriage government is still involving itself where it has no business being involved.

Any person of faith who believes that the government has legitimate authority over sacraments either has a very high opinion of the government or a very low opinion of sacraments.

Tom Head on why Government is in marriage.