Even though the Washington D.C. City Council recently voted 12-1 to recognize gay marriages from other states (the lone dissenting vote there being former D.C. mayor Marion Barry, who claimed the black community would be OUTRAGED if gay marriages were recognized,) Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the new kid on the block, is taking it upon himself to keep the vote from being made effective.
From the SLTrib:
Unlike any other American city, Washington has no ultimate control over its own laws and budgets and Congress has 30 days in which to cancel the 12-1 vote by the City Council to recognize same-sex marriage licenses from other states. The district, home to nearly 600,000 residents, has no voting member of Congress.
Chaffetz admits that if the federal government told his hometown, Alpine, whether to recognize gay marriage he said it’s different in D.C. because it receives federal funding.
The D.C. council is hoping Congress will leave the city alone, however, under the principal of home rule.
As do I. The people of Washington D.C. elect their leaders to represent them and make decisions for them. The recognition of gay marriages from other states would not impact anyone in Alpine, Utah, San Francisco, or anywhere else for that matter.
Jason Chaffetz needs to check his personal opinions at the door and worry about his own damn busienss, which although by the strict letter of the law includes Washington D.C. proper, really shouldn’t.
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