Barbara Boxer: “I am glad to hear Senator Allard say he welcomes the debate because that is the reason I came to the Senate floor today…”

“I am glad to hear Senator Allard say he welcomes the debate because that is the reason I came to the Senate floor today: to debate this issue. As someone who has been married 42 years, as a Democratic woman, I believe I can talk about marriage and what we need to do to strengthen marriage. Unfortunately, there is not one item on the table here that strengthens marriage and helps people stay married, that helps the family, and that is going to be part of what I talk about. It is interesting that Senator Allard said there is a great difference between Republicans and Democrats on this issue. I beg to differ with him. You cannot say you stand and speak for all Republicans today. In the 'Roll Call,' it says: True Conservatives Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment. George Will: Amending the Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman would be unwise for two reasons. Constitutionalizing social policy is generally a misuse of fundamental law. And it would be especially imprudent to end state responsibility for marriage law at a moment when we require evidence of the sort that can be generated by allowing the states to be laboratories of social policy.”