U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement after the Marriage Protection Amendment was defeated by a cloture vote:
“For thousands of years, marriage — the union between a man and a woman — has been recognized as an essential cornerstone of society. Forty-five states across the country, both red and blue, have acted to protect traditional marriage, but that hasn’t stopped same-sex marriage activists from taking their campaigns to the courts, where overreaching liberal judges have consistently set aside the will of the people.
"We must continue fighting to ensure the Constitution is amended by the will of the people rather than by judicial activism.”
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), an original cosponsor of S.J. Res. 1, the Marriage Protection Amendment, made the following statement today after voting to bring the amendment up for consideration on the Senate floor:
“I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman and that the people, not the courts, should have the authority to preserve that definition. That’s why I cosponsored and voted to support this amendment.”
Due to procedural objections by those opposing the amendment, 60 votes were needed to proceed to a full debate on the Marriage Protection Amendment. In a vote of 49 to 48, the amendment did not receive the 60 votes necessary to proceed.
Bob Corker released the following statement on Wednesday expressing disappointment in the Senate’s vote to block a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
“Marriage should be between one man and one woman. It is the cornerstone of our society, and should be protected from judges who have misinterpreted their role in a constitutional democracy. If in the Senate, I would have voted for the constitutional amendment.”