老澳门开奖结果

AUSTIN - Just two weeks after it died in the Texas House, a measure designed to subvert a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the state鈥檚 ban on same-sex marriage has been suddenly revived in the Texas Senate.

Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, chair of the Senate Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, added to an omnibus bill on county government HB 2977 by state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, language from state Rep. Cecil Bell鈥檚, R-Magnolia, failed HB 4105. HB 4105 would have barred state and local officials from licensing, enforcing or recognizing a same-sex marriage even if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples.

The committee first approved the revised HB 2977 Monday night. The committee took a second vote today after some committee members objected that Sen. Lucio hadn鈥檛 told them that the marriage language had been added to the bill. Sen. Lucio, a Democrat, voted with three Republicans to approve the revised bill. Two Democrats, Sen. Sylvia Garcia of Houston and Sen. Jos茅 Men茅ndez of San Antonio, voted against.

A coalition of civil liberties and LGBT-rights organizations -- 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas, Equality Texas, Texas Freedom Network and the Human Rights Campaign -- issued the following statements about the revised bill:

Terri Burke, Executive Director, 老澳门开奖结果 (老澳门开奖结果) of Texas:

鈥淪en. Lucio鈥檚 attempt to stain Texas鈥� reputation with this retrograde legislation demonstrates that he鈥檚 on the wrong side of history and not in line with Texas values. In the long run, we are confident that the Supreme Court will grant loving LGBT couples the freedom to marry in Texas. And we call upon the Senate to defeat this attempt to enshrine discrimination in our state.鈥�

Chuck Smith, Executive Director, Equality Texas:

鈥淎t its core, the amendment added to HB 2977 by Sen. Lucio is an attempt to subvert any future ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the freedom to marry. Pursuing a strategy to defy the Supreme Court will cost Texas taxpayers millions in litigation and cause great damage to our economy and reputation. In its present form, HB 2977 must be defeated.鈥�

Marty Rouse, National Field Director, Human Rights Campaign:

鈥淭his amendment sends an extreme message about the future of the Lone Star State 鈥� a future where all Texans are not welcome to live and thrive. Texas Senators must do everything in their power to stop this destructive and divisive assault on LGBT Texans and their families before it inflicts needless damage on this great state.鈥�

Kathy Miller, President, Texas Freedom Network:

鈥淭his reckless move tosses aside the state鈥檚 responsibilities under the U.S. Constitution and callously betrays loving gay and lesbian couples who simply want to make a lifetime commitment and protect their families the same way everyone else does. Every senator, regardless of party, should reject this revised bill and save Texas from the same firestorm of criticism that swept through Indiana and other states that have passed legislation promoting discrimination against LGBT people and their families."

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