An Alabama House committee on Thursday
killed a bill that sought to get the state out of issuing marriage
licenses.
According to AL.com,
the House Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 against advancing the bill to
the House floor. The legislation cleared the Senate last month.
Republican Rep. Greg Albritton
explained that under his bill a marriage contract replaced the
license and that couples would not be obligated to participate in a
marriage ceremony.
Albritton predicted that without his
legislation chaos would follow if the Supreme Court strikes down
state bans on gay marriage later this month.
“My goal is to protect the state,”
he said.
Rep. Chris England, a Democrat on the
committee, said that the bill wouldn't change anything.
“The core of the issue is going to
remain the same,” he said. “It is still going to be chaos. I
think chaos should evolve from the Supreme Court decision.”
“I think this needs more thought,”
said Republican Rep. Mike Ball, another committee member.