John Bel Edwards: “I believe the gentleman from Oklahoma and I share the belief and hope that all children in this world grow up in a…”

“I believe the gentleman from Oklahoma and I share the belief and hope that all children in this world grow up in a stable, loving family. For that, I applaud his intent. But there is a reason why this amendment was defeated so soundly in committee that the Republican members did not even ask for a recorded vote in committee. The reason is this was poorly drafted. Members need to know despite the good intent of the gentleman, the impact of this measure would be, for example, to allow a philandering married husband who abuses his wife on a regular basis to be able to legally adopt a child. But if two nuns felt God's calling to adopt a disabled, blind child from Romania under this amendment, they would be prohibited from doing so. Another example. Under this well-intended effort by the gentleman, the real result would be if a couple that had been married for a few years, had never been faithful to each other, both were alcoholics and both abused each other, wanted to adopt a child, they could. Yet a man and woman who lived committed to each other, yet for reasons perhaps that I would disagree with had never signed a marriage contract but yet they lived together faithfully for 30 years wanted to adopt a child, they could not. I would ask Members, which children would be better off, adopted by two nuns that felt God's calling or an abusive husband and wife? It is not the intent of the gentleman from Oklahoma with which I disagree. It is the impact.”