AFA of PA Action Alert

October 31, 2011

Pennsylvania Needs to Move on the PA Marriage Amendment and One Man Stands in the Way!

On May 3rd Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry Township) introduced HB 1434  — the PA  Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA).  Since that time  it has sat in the House State Government Committee of which Representative Metcalfe is the chair.  He has not moved the bill forward simply because he has no guarantee that the Majority Floor Leader Mike Turzai will allow the bill to come up for a vote when it passes out of the State Government Committee.    Representative Metcalfe knows he has the votes to get this bill passed in the House, but if Representative Turzai refuses to bring HB 1434 up for a vote, it will simply remain in limbo.    Representative Turzai is standing in the way of Pennsylvanians being allowed to vote on the definition of marriage and right NOW our state Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is being challenged in Federal Court in Philadelphia by a lesbian who “married” in Canada.

To get a constitutional amendment before the people is a long process in Pennsylvania (exact language passed in two consecutive legislative sessions), but having a “conservative” Republican stand in the way is an outrage!  Pennsylvania must act to preserve the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman or our DOMA could be tossed out and same sex marriage legalized by the actions of activists judges as happened in Iowa a couple years ago.  Pennsylvanians want to vote on marriage and we need to deliver that message to Representative Turzai!

Action Steps:

1.)  Contact Representative Mike Turzai and ask him for a guarantee to bring HB 1434 to a floor vote in the House.  His District Office number is (412) 369-2230 and his Harrisburg  office number is (717) 772-9943.  Email is mturzai@pahousegop.com  Please call AND email him!

2.)  Contact YOUR State Representative.  Click here to find your legislator by county or your address.    Two messages:  a.)  ask him or her to support HB 1434, the Marriage Protection Amendment and  b.) ask your representative to contact Representative Mike Turzai to give the guarantee that he will advance HB 1434 for a vote when it reaches the House.

3.)  Sign the AFA of PA Marriage Protection Amendment Petition.  Click here.

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