Sen. Johnson Will Support Same Sex Marriage
Says Respect for Marriage Act 'unnecessary’ but won’t oppose bill.
Ron Johnson. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he will not oppose legislation to codify federal protection for same-sex and interracial marriage.
The House passed the Respect for Marriage Act this week in response to the U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The court used the finding of a right to privacy in its 1972 abortion decision to support future decisions, including Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
If passed, the new law would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. That law defined marriage as being between one man and one woman, and was enacted in 1996 in response to growing push at the time for marriage equality from gay rights activists.
The court’s decision in Obergefell invalidated DOMA, establishing the right for same-sex couples to marry.
The law will need to overcome a potential Republican filibuster to pass in the Senate, which means it will need at least 60 votes to proceed. Democrats hold 50 seats in the U.S. Senate. Johnson, a conservative who is seeking reelection in the fall, had declined to give reporters his position earlier this week.
In a new statement, he said he would not block the legislation.
“Prior to the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision on gay marriage I supported civil unions,” Johnson stated. “After Obergefell, I considered the issue settled.”
Johnson and some other Republicans argue that concerns over the court potentially taking up issues like same-sex marriage or access to contraception are overblown. But those worried the court will act on those issues point not just to Thomas’s statements, but also to the legal arguments focused on a fundamental right to privacy that are at the heart of those decisions.
But the Republican senator said that while he feels “the Respect for Marriage Act is unnecessary, should it come before the Senate, I see no reason to oppose it.”
Baldwin introduced the bill in the Senate. She said earlier this week that she is very concerned the court could challenge the right to same-sex and interracial marriage.
“Those cases were indeed decided with similar reasoning to Roe v. Wade,” she said. “And so we need to protect these rights.”
Along with Johnson, four other Republicans have stated or implied they would support the legislation, according to CNN. Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is one of the cosponsors.
In the House, the legislation passed by a vote of 267-157, with 47 Republicans voting yes. All of Wisconsin’s Democratic legislators supported the bill. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil of Janesville was the only member of the state’s Republican delegation to vote in favor of the law.
US Sen. Ron Johnson says he won’t block ‘unnecessary’ Respect for Marriage Act was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
You can’t believe anything RoJo says. He belongs in prison stripes along with Fitz, Gableman, Spindell, et. al
“There ain’t nothin’ more powerful than the odor of mendacity.”
Wow! What a guy, and what a leader. An example of the emerging neo-Trump adult-in-the-room leadership. Other examples of Ron’s thoughtful policy positions, not all of which have been as clearly spelled out as his measured support for same-sex marriage:
1) We should continue to study climate change to make sure it isn’t just a temporary warm front/weather change. We must avoid any precipitous action that would affect oil companies’ stock price, or the value of Ron’s colleague Joe Manchin’s coal company.
2) With respect to the events of January 6, there should be a real – not the current fake – investigation. Bad things happened, and Nancy Pelosi should be held accountable.
3) To assure that another election is not stolen from Republicans, every measure should be taken to make sure that minorities and liberals – fake voters by definition – are prevented from voting, especially in Ron’s race for a second/final – oops, sorry, third – term.
4) Rich people/corporations should probably pay some tax, but not so much that they move to another country, stop creating jobs, or have their feelings hurt.
5) Despite progress in putting women, minorities, lgbtq people back in their historic places, it is premature to begin discussing re-legalizing slavery. One step at a time. Reportedly, Ron may be considering – as a middle ground in response to the Great Replacement – a Senate resolution declaring white people the #1/still best race.
6) Given Wisconsin’s high Covid rates, Ron wishes he had pushed even harder for widespread distribution of hydroxychloroquine.
Would Johnson be taking this non crazy position if he wasn’t soon up for re-election?
Beautifully said frank a schneiger…thank you.
I will add:
When lying liars lie, we simply vote their lying little poo toots OUT and into wherever it is that lying liars go. May they all rot in whatever their version of hell is.
kaygeeret: Two valuable quotes for understanding our times:( Malcolm Muggeridge, the old pundit) “People don’t believe lies because they have to. They believe them because they want to.” (George Costanza of “Seinfeld”) “It’s not a lie if I believe it.”
Show me when RoJo votes for closure and allows the bill to come to the floor and get passed to President Biden’s desk. Talk is cheap.
But If you want proof he and the GOPs are losing on this issue and the elections in general, here’s your proof. He wouldn’t say Jack if they were in a good position.