Yesterday, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter approved ban on gay marriage. In this decision, four activist judges in California decided to overturn a statewide ballot initiative supported by a majority of Californians. Congressman Culberson believes that voters and their representatives should make decisions regarding gay marriage, not activist judges.

Congressman Culberson has cosponsored and voted for several amendments in recent years including the Federal Marriage Amendment and the Marriage Protection Amendment. These amendments enjoy broad support among many different groups and represent a defense of our traditional values and institutions against the social engineering of the judiciary. Along with defining marriage, these amendments reserve the ability to confer benefits or domestic partnership status to state legislatures. The Congressman has publically opposed granting such benefits or recognizing same-sex couples in Texas, but as a strong supporter of the 10th Amendment, he believes states have the right to make those decisions.

This decision is a reminder that we cannot rely on the courts to abide by the values of the vast majority of Americans.

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This week the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold Indiana’s voter ID law that requires voters to present a valid form of identification when casting a ballot. State lawmakers in Texas are working to enact similar legislation to protect the integrity and reliability of the electoral process and prevent voter fraud. Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst said that he plans to pass a state voter ID law in Texas during the state legislative session next spring. In response to the Supreme Court ruling, Dewhurst said: "With this legal challenge now behind us, I look forward to passing a fair voter ID law in Texas next year that fully protects the voting rights of all U.S. citizens registered to vote in Texas." Last Congress, Culberson supported the Federal Election Integrity Act that would require all voters to present a valid ID when they vote in national elections. This legislation passed the House, but was not voted on in the Senate and Democrat Leadership has not brought this bill to the House floor this Congress.

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