Here's how Pa. House representatives voted on bill to protect same-sex marriage
Bethany RodgersPennsylvania’s congressional delegation split largely down party lines in Thursday’s vote on a bill to protect same-sex marriage rights.
Only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, joined the nine Democratic representatives from Pennsylvania in supporting the legislation, which now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Keystone State’s remaining eight Republicans opposed the measure, including two who had supported a version of the bill when it came before the House over the summer.
Reps. Scott Perry and Dan Meuser voted for the Respect for Marriage Act when it passed the House in July but against the revised version Thursday. In a statement posted online, Meuser explained that he couldn’t get behind Senate amendments that he argued would threaten religious liberty.
The Senate approved the bill last month after including a bipartisan amendment on religious liberty; Meuser didn’t specify what aspects of the revised bill he disliked and said the added protections don’t go far enough.
“Whether this legislation passed or not, same sex marriage will still be the law of the land tomorrow,” Meuser said. “What will be affected by the passage of this legislation are the religious freedoms and protections of Americans.”
Perry’s office did not respond to a request for comment. However, in an interview last month with the conservative Family Research Council, Perry said he felt put on the spot by the July vote and torn because the legislation also includes protections for interracial marriage.
“I calculated incorrectly — and maybe that's the best way to put it — that my long-standing support of traditional marriage would be understood, and I didn't want to vote against interracial marriage,” Perry said.
But he suggested he was having second thoughts about his yes-vote, declaring that the legislation “literally destroys religious freedom” and would be “unacceptable” without Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s amendment. The proposed change would’ve prohibited the federal government from pulling grants, revoking tax exemptions or taking other actions against organizations that don’t recognize same-sex marriage.
Lee’s suggestions failed. However, the Senate did approve a separate amendment aimed at safeguarding religious liberties, clarifying that churches and other nonprofit religious groups “shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”
Here’s how each of Pennsylvania’s representatives voted:
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District) — Yes
- Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District) — Yes
- Rep. Dwight Evans (D-3rd District) — Yes
- Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-4th District) — Yes
- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5th District) — Yes
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-6th District) — Yes
- Rep. Susan Wild (D-7th District) — Yes
- Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8th District) — Yes
- Rep. Dan Meuser (R-9th District) — No
- Rep. Scott Perry (R-10th District) — No
- Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-11th District) — No
- Rep. Fred Keller (R-12th District) — No
- Rep. John Joyce (R-13th District) — No
- Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-14th District) — No
- Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-15th District) — No
- Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16th District) — No
- Rep. Conor Lamb (D-17th District) — Yes
- Rep. Michael Doyle (D-18th District) — Yes