I received the following response from my Representative:

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Thank you for contacting me about the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA).

A broad-based coalition of community and religious leaders have come together to protect the sanctity of marriage from the actions of extremist homosexual “rights” groups. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas, I am convinced that our nation may need to amend the Constitution in order to preserve the legal status of marriage and the family for future generations. The FMA embodies some of the most deeply held values of the American people.

The Federal Marriage Amendment is narrowly tailored to address negative developments in the courts. It would preclude courts from distorting the Constitution into a requirement that marital status or benefits traditionally associated with marriage – between one man and one woman – be reallocated by judicial decree. The FMA represent the deep public consensus on the unique nature and social importance of marriage. At the same time, the amendment returns to the democratic process at the State level authority that is currently being usurped by the courts and applauded by activist organizations, who have failed to convince a majority of State legislators of the correctness of their
cause.

As a supporter and cosponsor of this important legislation, I believe it to be a proper response to an ongoing and accelerating abuse of power by the courts.  Passage of the FMA would insure the power to determine who can receive the benefits traditionally associated with marriage remains with the people of the several States through their elected legislatures, not unelected judges. Matters of home and family should be left with those best able to articulate public policy, the people of the several States.

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts. Please do not hesitate to contact me again with any thoughts or concerns.

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Not the response I would have hoped for but  pretty much what I expected.  My Senators have not responded to the email as of yet.

I sent the following letter to my representative and Senators

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Hello, 

I would like to start off by saying that I am opposed to President Bush’s plan for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.  I am more than a little concerned that the President feels that this issue should take precedence over balancing the budget, creating jobs, or coming up with an exit strategy for Iraq.  I consider this issue to be of least importance – it doesn’t affect most Americans, no one is suffering or being harmed or killed by non-action, the States seem capable of dealing with the issue at a local level in a manner that the citizens of the state are happy with. 

With that in mind, I do not believe that the spirit of the amendment would achieve its goal unless it required that all marriage be life long commitments.  I respect your ability to vote your conscience on this issue, but I believe it is hypocritical to ban same-sex marriages without also eliminating divorces, as divorces seem to be a much bigger threat to the sanctity of marriage. 

My true hope is that you will decide to do nothing on this issue, avoid wasting tax dollars debating it, and vote against it if it ever gets out of committee.

Sincerely

James Hofer

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Contact your Senator, or Representative.

According to this I should be voting Democrat this election.  Based purely on how we stand on the issues, I agree with the candidates the following percent of the time:

1  Kucinich Score: 100%
2  Sharpton Score: 96%
3  Kerry Score: 95%
4  Dean Score: 88%
5  Edwards Score: 81%
6  Bush Score: 13%