WASHINGTON — Virginia Republicans are vowing to focus on “protecting religious liberty” following the Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have the right to marry.
“There is a need to protect people of faith,” said Republican Bill Howell, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Republican leaders are examining the issue and they promise to make it one of their top priorities during the next legislative session.
Howell says he and his colleagues are trying to make sure people who disagree with the Supreme Court’s ruling do not face discrimination.
“This is protecting the most basic of our American freedoms and it’s something everyone should get behind,” Howell says.
The move comes just a few months before an important state legislative election.
“While the House of Delegates is guaranteed to remain Republican by a wide margin, the state Senate is up for grabs and could go either way,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
The timing has led many Democrats to cry foul, claiming Republicans are only trying to fire up their base and increase turnout in November.
“It has nothing to do at all with religious suppression,” said Democratic State Sen. Dick Saslaw. “Even Stevie Wonder could see through this.”
So far, Republicans have not introduced any specific proposals. But Howell insists the effort is legitimate.
“There are a lot of different concerns that a lot of people have, and I wouldn’t just brush them off as saying ‘it’s all a political ploy.'”
