Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe is calling for
the impeachment of Attorney General Kathleen Kane, a Democrat, for
refusing to defend the state's law limiting marriage to heterosexual
couples.
Kane's refusal to defend the statute in a lawsuit challenging its
constitutionality prompted Governor Tom Corbett, a Republican, to
step in.
“I think breaking the law is worthy of impeachment,” the
Republican lawmaker told The
Patriot-News. “Her duty is to defend the law.”
Citing Kane's announcement, Montgomery County Register of Wills D.
Bruce Hanes began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian
couples.
“By her example, this Montgomery County official felt emboldened
to violate the law also,” said Metcalfe, who also recommended
impeachment for Hanes.
“It's not legal,” he said. “Our laws are very clear about
what marriage is. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Anything
that that courthouse issues to anyone other than a man and a woman
would not be valid in Pennsylvania. The individual doing so is
committing an act of lawlessness. It's outrageous to see a locally
elected official believe he has the ability to set state policy like
this from a local county office. It it wasn't so wrong it would be
laughable.”
At least two Pennsylvania mayors have offered to marry gay couples
who already have a marriage license. On Monday, Braddock
Mayor John Fetterman did marry such a couple.
(Related: Penn.
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe blocks gay Rep. Brian Sims' DOMA remarks.)