WV House considers extreme measures to get anti-gay marriage amendment to the floor
February 9, 2010 · A controversial constitutional amendment would guarantee a legal marriage only be between a man and woman.
It was proposed in the West Virginia House of Delegates during this year’s legislative session.
Bi-partisan support of the so-called marriage protection amendment includes the majority leader as well as minority leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha.
He’s one of several delegates becoming frustrated over what he feels are stall tactics to keep the amendment from leaving committee.
“A number of states throughout the country have recognized homosexual marriage and we think we need a safeguard to keep that from happening here and we think the people of West Virginia want that safeguard, so there’s a frustration out there, and we think it should be brought to the House and debated,” said Armstead.
Armstead now believes the drastic and unpopular parliamentary move to discharge the committee will be the only alternative to move the proposed amendment.
“We hope that it’s not necessary to do a discharge motion, but if it is and it’s the only way we can get a debate on it then I think that will happen,” Armstead said.
Delegate Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh, supports the amendment and says it’s important for it to come to the floor so it can be publicly debated.
“There are folks on both sides of the aisle that are probably for and against it, but as a sponsor of that legislation, I’d like to see it brought before the whole House so that we can vote it,” said Moye.
In other news from the West Virginia House of Delegates on Monday, a bill introduced by Delegate Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, would give a state tax break to college students who remain in West Virginia.
“Those students who graduate college in state, who find employment and stay here within the first five years of graduation, this would be a state income tax credit,” said Skaff.
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