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Strong Families and Communities |
Faith-based organizations: Republicans will push for a
new law that guarantees that
organizations that provide social
services - like drug and alcohol rehabilitation - won't be discriminated
against in state funding because they are faith based.
While we
will certainly uphold the
principle that organizations cannot use government funds to support
inherently religious activities like worship, religious instruction and
proselytization, these
organizations can do great work in our communities on drug treatment and
other social services. And they should not be discriminated against
because of their religious affiliation.
Marriage: House Republicans will strengthen families and defend
the sanctity of marriage by supporting legislation to limit marriage between
a man and a woman. Our current
state law clearly defines marriage as the union of one man and one
woman. However, it is silent on
the recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships.
We will push a law that clarifies our marriage
statutes and states that this state does not recognize civil unions and
domestic partnerships.
If someone enters into one of these unions in
another state, we do not want any ambiguity in our law to
prohibit the recognition of that union in Tennessee.
Abortion: House Republicans will support a constitutional
amendment now working its way through the Senate that states that our
constitution does not guarantee a right to an abortion.
Courts have struck down laws passed by the General
Assembly requiring a waiting period or counseling before an abortion and a
state requirement that abortions after the first trimester be performed in
a hospital.
The net effect of this has been to make our
abortion laws more liberal than the U.S. Supreme Court requires.
This amendment simply assures that Tennessee courts do not go
further than the U.S. Supreme on this matter.
