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SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE
Viewpoints on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to make same-sex marriages legal throughout America:
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich
“I do believe in the traditional sense of marriage between a man and a woman. But, I also respect the Supreme Court of the United States. And, the Supreme Court of the United States has made a decision. As I repeatedly said while they were considering it, we’ll honor what the Supreme Court does. It’s the law of the land. It’s the way America functions.”
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House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester
“I am disappointed that the Supreme Court disregarded the democratically-enacted will of millions of Americans by forcing states to redefine the institution of marriage.”
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Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio
“Now the Court has reached its decision, I hope we can move past the division and polarization the issue has caused.”
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Tom Zawistowski, President of the Ohio Citizens PAC
“Clearly the US Supreme Court is no longer operating within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution or the concept of the rule of law. They can not legislate morality and this ruling does not change the hearts and minds and values of the vast majority of Americans who don’t need elitist judges to tell us what words mean, or what natural marriage is, or what is in our bible, or how to live our lives.”
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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles
“All men and women deserve to be able to love and marry whomever they choose and today’s decision will go down in history as a win for equality for all Americans. Marriage rights should not depend on what state you live in or who you love, but the understanding that all men and women should be treated equally. Today love won.”
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U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana
“Five judges overturned the sound public policy that was democratically enacted by millions of Americans in states across the country, including Ohio. This ruling follows what seems to be a recent trend on the Supreme Court: rulings based on the desires of the justices, and not the letter of the law and the framework of the Constitution.”
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Ted Strickland, former Ohio governor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate
“This victory isn’t just a victory for LGBT Ohioans — it’s a victory for equality and a victory for all Ohioans. Too many couples in Ohio and across the country have waited far too long to marry who they love, and they shouldn’t have to wait a moment longer.”
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State Rep. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood
“I join all Ohioans in applauding today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to grant all couples the right to marry if they so choose … This ruling gives me hope that sometime in the near future, Jean Kosmac, my partner of 21 years, and I will gather our daughters, friends and family and legally marry — a decision the State of Ohio has denied to us until today. We have much work to do to achieve full equality for members of the LGBT community, but this decision affirms our families and grants them the dignity and respect we have sought for ourselves and our children.”
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Sandy Theis, ProgressOhio executive director
“Gay Americans won a major civil rights victory today — a victory once thought unimaginable in our lifetime. This ruling prompts the acceptance of LGBT people everywhere, and it tells the world that America values equality and dignity for all. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we must work to overturn the bevy of Ohio laws that continue to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in housing, employment, and public accommodation. Let’s work together to make Ohio a place where everyone feels at home.”
AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE
Viewpoints on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 rejection of a challenge to the Affordable Care Act:
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Larry Levitt, Kaiser Family Foundation:
“The insurance industry is certainly breathing a sigh of relief this afternoon. Insurers are now all in on this law.”
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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
“The Supreme Court reaffirmed what the health law is all about: helping hardworking families purchase affordable health insurance.”
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House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland.
“The Republicans have just been saved from themselves by the Supreme Court of the United States.”
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U.S. senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio
“Ohioans deserve a health-care system that gets rid of Obamacare mandates and replaces them with patient-centered, accessible, and affordable health care.”
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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky
“As a physician, I know Americans need a health care system that reconnects patients, families and doctors, rather than growing our government bureaucracy.”
