How some Tri-State members of Congress voted on the marriage equality bill

Sarah Loesch and Alexa Shrake, Evansville Courier & Press
·3 min read
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EVANSVILLE — All three Tri-State-area members of U.S. House of Representatives voted against a measure that would recognize marriage equality at the federal level.

Indiana 8th District Rep. Larry Bucshon, Illinois 15th District Rep. Mary Miller and Kentucky 1st District Rep. James Comer all voted no on the "Respect for Marriage Act" presented in the House on Tuesday. All three are Republicans.

The bill passed 267-157, with seven members abstaining. It recognizes same-sex and interracial marriage on the federal level and repeals the Defense of Marriage Act.

Larry Bucshon

Bucshon responded to the Courier & Press with a statement sent via his spokesperson.

“Based on Supreme Court decisions Obergefell v. Hodges and Loving v. Virginia the issues of concern in this bill, H.R. 8404, have been clearly decided. In the decision Dobbs v. Jackson the majority opinion unequivocally made clear the decision applies only to abortion and does not reflect the court’s view on any other issue. The bill brought forward by Democrats yesterday is unnecessary, divisive, and disingenuous," Bucshon stated.

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana.
U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana.

Though the Dobbs v. Jackson opinion was only related to abortion, the Respect for Marriage Act was written in response to a concurring opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas.

In the opinion, Thomas wrote the Supreme Court should reconsider all of its "substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell."

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"The bill is also an attempt to delegitimize the Supreme Court, a separate and coequal branch of the U.S. federal government, by implying Congressional action is necessary to codify their decisions," Bucshon stated. "In an election year when Democrats should be focused on inflation, fuel prices, illegal immigration, and crime (issues important to the majority of the American people), they are bringing political messaging bills to the floor of the House in a desperate attempt to save their political skins. It is a dereliction of duty and the American people will take notice."

Bucshon was one of 222 Republican who voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in 2013. A bill which would make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion at 20 weeks. At this time, the decision on abortion was untouched by the Supreme Court.

Mary Miller

Miller, whose district covers a swatch of Illinois from north of Champaign down to the Ohio River, did not respond to a Courier & Press request for comment sent to her spokesperson.

Tuesday, the same day as the vote, Miller posted a news release to Facebook stating House Democrats were pushing an agenda.

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois.

In the post she said one of their attempts was legislation which "attacks the traditional family."

"... All of these initiatives are deeply unpopular with the American people, and I will always vote NO against the radical agenda of the Left," she stated.

James Comer

Comer, whose district includes most of Western Kentucky, did not respond to a Courier & Press request for comment sent to his spokesperson.

Sarah Loesch can be contacted at sloesch@gannett.com with story ideas and questions.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Larry Bucshon votes no on recognizing gay, interracial marriage