The Idaho House on Friday approved a
non-binding memorial to Congress calling for the impeachment of
federal judges who strike down state bans on gay marriage.
According to The
Spokesman-Review, the measure cleared the chamber with a
44-25 vote. Nearly half of those opposed were Republicans.
The measure's author, Republican Rep.
Paul Shepherd said, “I think somehow, someday we've gotta take a
stand.”
“You can't say an immoral behavior
according to God's word, what we've all been taught since the
beginning, is something that's just, and that's really kinda what
this is all about. We'd better uphold Christian morals. As an
example, how about fornication, adultery and other issues,” he
added.
An openly gay House member told
colleagues “this bill is personal, and it hurts me.”
“This bill implies that my marriage
isn't worth as much as someone else's,” said Rep. John McCrostie, a
Democrat from Boise.
“What this memorial says is that we
are so against gay marriage … we'll try to impeach any judge who
doesn't see it our way, the way the Legislature of Idaho has it,”
said House Minority Leader John Rusche, a Democrat from Lewiston.
Gay couples started marrying in Idaho
late last year after a federal appeals court struck down Idaho's ban.