ABQjournal: Bill Saying N.M. Marriage Must Be Between Man and Woman Advances to House By Kate Nash, Journal Capitol Bureau
Sen. William Sharer said his bill aims to provide the best the state can for its children.
“Ninety percent of the men in prison today don’t have a dad,” he said. “Obviously, they have a father, but they don’t have a dad. And that’s where I’m coming from, how can we help those guys have a dad?”
It has always struck me as a ridiculous lie that letting two people of the same gender marry weakens marriage. But even that argument isn’t as stupid as the one above. How is denying two loving people their legal rights going to translate into dads for delinquents? Are homosexuals actually to blame for dads abandoning their progeny? Isn’t this really a problem with heterosexuals? Maybe they shouldn’t be allowed to marry (or required to adopt a convict).
Let’s not forget that Republicans (1) don’t give a damn about people in prison unless they have some comforts to be stripped away and (2) don’t legislate social change (ha!). mjh
MARRIAGE BILL VOTE
Here is the Senate’s 25-12 vote Wednesday approving a measure (SB 597) to define marriage as a contract between a man and a woman.
Voting yes, in favor of the measure, were 17 Republicans and eight Democrats. Voting against the bill were no Republicans and 12 Democrats. Not voting or excused were one Republican and four Democrats.
REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Rod Adair (Roswell)
Vernon Asbill (Carlsbad)
Mark Boitano (Albuquerque)
Joseph Carraro (Albuquerque)
Kent Cravens (Albuquerque)
Dianna Duran (Tularosa)
Clint Harden (Clovis)
Stuart Ingle (Portales)
Gay Kernan (Hobbs)
Steve Komadina (Corrales)
Carroll Leavell (Jal)
Steven Neville (Aztec)
William Payne (Albuquerque)
Leonard Lee Rawson (Las Cruces)
John Ryan (Albuquerque)
William Sharer (Farmington)
H. Diane Snyder (Albuquerque)
DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
Carlos Cisneros (Questa)
Joseph Fidel (Grants)
Tim Jennings (Roswell)
Richard Martinez (Espanola)
Mary Kay Papen (Las Cruces)
Lidio Rainaldi (Gallup)
Bernadette Sanchez (Albuquerque)
James Taylor (Albuquerque)
DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Dede Feldman (Albuquerque)
Mary Jane Garcia (Do?a Ana)
Phil Griego (San Jose)
John Grubesic (Santa Fe)
Linda Lopez (Albuquerque)
Cisco McSorley (Albuquerque)
Gerald Ortiz y Pino (Albuquerque)
John Pinto (Tohatchi)
Shannon Robinson (Albuquerque)
Nancy Rodriguez (Santa Fe)
Michael Sanchez (Belen)
Leonard Tsosie (Crownpoint)
DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
Ben Altamirano (Silver City)
Pete Campos (Las Vegas)
Cynthia Nava (Las Cruces)
John Arthur Smith (Deming)
REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
Sue Wilson Beffort (Sandia Park)