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   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
State Senator Information
Illinois 		US Senators by State
US Senators and their Comments on FMA
Senator's Name: Barack Obama , Democrat
Website: http://obama.senate.gov/
Federal DOMA in 1996: This senator was elected in 2004, therefore not present for the federal DOMA in 1996 or the Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) in 2004. The senator voted against the MPA in 2004.
Senator's Comments: ?I am a fierce supporter of domestic-partnership and civil-union laws.? (Interview with Windy City Times; 2/4/04); "I'm a Christian, and so although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman,'' (Chicago Tribune 9/24/04)
FMA Cloture in July 2004: This senator was elected in 2004, therefore not present for the FMA cloture vote in July 2004.
Senator's Name: Richard Durbin, Democrat
Website: http://durbin.senate.gov/
Federal DOMA in 1996: This senator was elected in 1996, therefore not present for the federal DOMA in 1996. The senator voted against the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.
Senator's Comments: ?While I do not support same-sex marriages, the Constitution has been amended only 17 times since the adoption of the Bill of Rights, and I do not believe the case has been made for a constitutional amendment on this subject.? (Sen. Durbin?s website, Feb. 24, 2004)

?U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D.-Ill., said that while he does not support same-sex marriage, he also thinks marriage is a state, not federal, matter.? The State Journal Register (Springfield, IL), August 1, 2003. He said members of Congress should think ?long and hard? before allowing the federal government to pre-empt states? authority to establish standards for marriage Copley News Service, February 27, 2004.
FMA Cloture in July 2004: This senator voted against the cloture concerning the FMA July 2004.


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