Kansas vs Missouri reaction to Supreme Court ruling on (marriage) equality
The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that states must accept other states recognition of marriages, including those of same-sex couples.
You'd that would settle it, right?
Well, naturally not, given some "red" or Republican states legislators and governors.
What's interesting, however, is the difference between the way Kansas and Missouri will apparently be approaching this issue. Check it out:
Kansas is ignoring the Supreme Court too — the governor is GOP former congressional neanderthal Sam Brownback:
“You can’t do that in the state of Kansas,” said Nancy Escalante, supervisor for marriage licenses at the court. “Our application says ‘man and woman.’ The Legislature has not changed it.”In contrast, here’s how a Democratic governor handled today’s move by the Supreme Court, even though none of the decisions in question even applied to Missouri:
Attorney General Chris Koster today released the following statement: “The circuit court’s judgment in Barrier v. Vasterling held that Missouri must recognize marriages lawfully entered into in other states. We will not appeal that judgment. Our national government is founded upon principles of federalism – a system that empowers Missouri to set policy for itself, but also obligates us to honor contracts entered into in other states. A consequence of this morning’s ruling by the United States Supreme Court is that gay marriage will soon be legal in as many as 30 states. At a time when Missouri is competing to attract the nation’s premier businesses and most talented employees, we should not demand that certain individuals surrender their marriage licenses in order to live and work among us. Missouri’s future will be one of inclusion, not exclusion.”
Kudos to Chris Koster and the entire state of Missouri.
Imagine that. People wanting equality. In America.
