FRC Clarifies: No Hatch Amendment

Mar 27, 2004 09:28 AM EST

The Family Research Council (FRC) has received a response from Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA.) stating that there is not an alternative amendment Specter and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is working on together.

Bill Reynolds in Sen. Specter's office clarified, saying, "We are not, I repeat not working on a substitute marriage amendment. In fact, we are not working on any federal marriage amendment."

The FRC called on the Senate Tuesday to reject the amendment they thought was going to be proposed by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). On Monday, Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO.) had already presented a modified Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), which by omitting the words “nor state or federal law” would let states decide on civil unions.

For now, no other FMA will be proposed other than Allard’s on Monday.

“We appreciate the clarification from the Senator's office,” said Tony Perkins, president of the FRC.