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Marriage Protection Amendment

Dear Friend:

I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your support of Senate Bill 1250.  Please know I have been and continue to be a strong advocate of Senate Bill 1250.  In addition, the last time the Senate considered this proposal I was one of the lead advocates on the Senate floor. 

As you may know, Senate Bill 1250 was on the calendar about a month ago for consideration by the Senate.  At that time many of the conservative Democrats in the House of Representative personally indicated to me that this issue was dead on arrival.  Furthermore, Speaker of the House Dennis O’Brien, Majority Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans, and Majority Chair of the State Government Committee Babette Josephs all publically indicated that they will not run SB 1250.

Additionally, in the Senate numerous amendments unrelated to the institution of marriage were filed by those opposed to the bill in an effort to derail the proposal and to embarrass supporters of the bill by forcing them to vote down potentially volatile and divisive amendments.  Also, amendments were going to be offered to weaken the bill’s protections.  I would have no problem voting on these potentially volatile and divisive amendments if I knew these amendments were going to run in the House. 

To date, advocates of the amendment have been unable to get any of the House Majority Democratic Caucus to agree to run the bill.   As a result, when Senator Michael Brubaker, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1250, stood on the Senate floor and made the motion to “table” the bill, based upon the above information he received regarding the intentions of the House of Representatives and the proposed amendments, it was clear to supporters of the bill, including myself, that we needed to support him in order to avoid a procedural maneuver that was designed to kill the bill and to harm those who support protecting the institution of marriage.  Please check my webpage for the letter the Catholic Conference provided supporting the Senate’s action of tabling the bill.

Be assured that if an agreement can be reached with the House leadership that Senate Bill 1250 would be considered, the Senate Leadership has made a commitment to placing the bill back on the calendar and promptly considering it.

Again, thank you for contacting me and sharing your thoughts.　

Sincerely,

JANE C. ORIE
Majority Whip
40th Senatorial District

Additional Information:

• Letter from Pennsylvania Catholic Conference - Disappointing news for the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amending (PDF)