Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert on Tuesday
suggested President Obama's job bill gives a nod to gay couples.
Gohmert, a social conservative, has
previously said repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the policy
which ended on September 20 that for 18 years banned gay and bisexual
troops from serving openly, would
be the nation's downfall.
While denouncing the president's
American Jobs Act, Gohmert said the law would encourage divorce.
“This may be something nice he's
throwing out for gay folks that are living together so he can tell
them actually you're better off not getting married, because there's
a marriage penalty here,” Gohmert said on the House floor.
“It really penalizes married
individuals,” he said. “The good news, if you're thinking about
divorce, is you can actually get divorced and have $75,000 to
$100,000 higher exception. And you can even live together!”
“This is the president's proposal:
live together and you get a whole lot more of an exception than if
you're married. Now, of course, the founders they all understood
marriage to be between a man and a woman. … This president …
takes a shot at traditional, conventional marriage,” he added.