Bloomington Herald-Times, December 15, 2008
To the editor:
For 10 years, Peggy Welch has consistently advocated for the preservation of marriage as an institution between one man and one woman. When California's Supreme Court ruled that California's "defense of marriage" law passed by a majority of voters several years earlier was "unconstitutional", it demonstrated the need for the issue to be settled constitutional law.
California voters approved an amendment to the state's constitution to protect marriage last month. It is significant that 70% of blacks in California rejected claims that same-sex marriage is the same as interracial marriage, and voted for the amendment. 70% of blacks in Florida also voted for a marriage protection amendment.
In 2006, Pat Bauer promised to allow a vote in the Indiana House on a marriage protection amendment so that Hoosiers have a chance to approve it. (H-T, October 29, 2006.) Bauer broke his promise in 2007, but the election results in California (a much more liberal state) should serve as a mandate for him to allow a vote in the next legislative session.
I applaud Peggy Welch's efforts to protect marriage, but she needs to realize that as long as she continues to caucus with the Democrats, she nullifies her own vote.
Scott Tibbs, Bloomington
