Congressman Burgess on the FMA

A member of Frisco Pride recently wrote to Congressman Michael Burgess about the Federal Marriage Amendment. After receiving Mr. Burgess's reply, Todd sent off the following response (Congressman's Burgess's reply is published below as well).

From: Todd Shilling
To: "Congressman Michael Burgess" (imatx26@mail.house.gov)
Subject: Re: From Congressman Burgess
Date: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 10:47 PM

Dear Congressman Burgess:

Thank you for your enlightening reply. If you really read the original letter I sent to you, I know you are aware that I deeply disagree with your understanding of this issue.

Please allow me to elaborate as to why I disagree. Quite simply, the Constitution of the United States should be used to guarantee rights and freedoms to ALL AMERICANS, not just those YOU wish to include. The Constitution is not a tool to discriminate against a group of people because you don't think their cause is morally right.

I firmly believe the founding fathers would be thoroughly disgusted, as I am, reading the reply you sent to me. I know this is a form letter because I received the same one from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The second point I would like to address is your statement "I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman." If the institution is so sacred between one man and one woman, maybe you could explain the statisic that over 50% of marriages between one man and one woman end in divorce in this country. If you want to keep the institution of marriage sacred, make it illegal to divorce. That would do more to protect the sactity of marriage than telling same-sex couples you want to discriminate against them using the Constitution of the United States, a document I hold sacred.

"I will oppose any efforts on the federal level to legally recognize same-sex marriages during my tenure as a United States Congressman."

Please rest assured, I have copied alot of my friends and acqaintences on this response. I'm sure most of them will oppose YOU in the next election.

Regards,
Todd W. Shilling

Congressman Michael Burgess (imatx26@mail.house.gov) wrote:

July 5, 2006

Mr. Todd Shilling
Frisco, Texas 75034

Dear Mr. Shilling,

Thank you for contacting me regarding S. J.Res.1, the Marriage Protection Amendment. I appreciate hearing from you on these important issues.

As you may know, S.J.Res.1 would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and make any state law defining it in any other way unconstitutional. On November 18, 2003 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state cannot deny same-sex couples the right to marry. The Court stopped short of allowing marriage licenses to be issued to the couples that challenge the law, and gave the Massachusetts State Legislature 180 days to find a solution. I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman. The decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court violates this important principle. The Marriage Amendment would effectively prevent the further undermining of marriage by our nation's courts. On June 7, 2006, the Senate voted on this legislation, and it failed by a vote of 49-48.

I am a cosponsor of similar legislation in the House of Representatives, H.J.Res.88, also titled the Marriage Protection Amendment. I believe that the institution of marriage is a legal and moral bond between a man and a woman. I can assure you that I will oppose any efforts on the federal level to legally recognize same-sex marriages during my tenure as a United States Congressman.

You may be interested to learn that Texas, along with 22 other States, already has a Constitutional Amendment that prohibits same-sex marriage. Article 1, section 32 of the Texas Constitution provides that: "Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information on legislative initiatives, calendar events, news from Washington and constituent services, please visit my website at www.house.gov/burgess.

Sincerely,
Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Member of Congress