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   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
State Senator Information
Connecticut 		US Senators by State
US Senators and their Comments on FMA
Senator's Name: Christopher Dodd, Democrat
Website: http://dodd.senate.gov/
Federal DOMA in 1996: This senator voted for the federal DOMA in 1996 and against the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004. The senator did not vote on the MPA in 2006.
Senator's Comments: ? States have been primarily responsible for regulations relating to marriage for more than two centuries? I see no reason in this case to depart from a practice that has served our nation so well for so long.? (The Hotline, February 26, 2004).

Interview: Senator Dodd, is this something that should be in the Constitution? DODD: I don't think so, in my view. This is a -- historically, if we start writing into the federal Constitution marriage laws -- we've left this up for 220 years to the states in this country. And the Constitution, it seems to me, ought not to be a place where you start to take on matters like this at all. Now, obviously, each state has to make up its own mind on what they want to do. And we passed the Defense of Marriage Act in Congress, which says that you didn't have to recognize a marriage of another state if you don't agree with that policy in your state. But the idea that you'd amend the federal Constitution of the United States, to get into this area, seems to be overreaching. CNN LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER, February 15, 2004.
FMA Cloture in July 2004: This senator voted against the cloture concerning the FMA July 2004.
Senator's Name: Joseph Lieberman, Democrat
Website: http://lieberman.senate.gov/
Federal DOMA in 1996: This senator voted for the federal DOMA in 1996 and against the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.
Senator's Comments: ?Senator Joseph I. Lieberman also repeated his opposition to gay marriage, but endorsed Massachusetts' right to define marriage within its borders. ?I have also long believed that states have the right to adopt for themselves laws that allow same-sex unions,? Lieberman said in a statement. ?I will oppose any attempts by the right wing to change the Constitution in response to today's ruling, which would be unnecessary and divisive.?? ? Boston Globe, November 19, 2003.
FMA Cloture in July 2004: This senator voted against the cloture concerning the FMA July 2004.


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