Via email from the Family Research Council:
Another one of the 47 House Republicans who voted for the so-called Respect for Marriage Act has withdrawn his support, charging Democrats with “failing to provide legitimate safeguards for faith-based organizations” that hold “deeply-held religious beliefs” about natural marriage.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) announced on Monday that he will reverse his vote in favor of H.R. 8404, which skeptics call the “Disrespect for Marriage” Act. Although he favors laws that would equate same-sex relationships with marriage and once voted for the “Equality” Act, he said this bill goes too far.
“My record shows that I am a long-standing advocate against discrimination of all types,” he said. “I, however, cannot support any effort that undermines religious liberties by failing to provide legitimate safeguards for faith-based organizations that object based on their deeply-held religious beliefs.”
He became the second House Republican to have a change of heart over the controversial legislation. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) blamed the expedited vote for Republicans’ confusion and his former “yea” vote.
Diaz-Balart, who was just elected to an 11th term, is among the House Republicans who signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
In 2019, he was among the eight House Republicans who voted for the Equality Act, which him earned a call for a primary challenge by the Liberty Counsel.
The House is expected to vote on the amended marriage bill this week. Rather obviously, even if all 47 Republicans were to reverse their initial vote, the bill will still pass and head to the desk of President Biden.
Second Congressman Renounces His Vote for ‘Disrespect for Marriage’ Act https://t.co/9buLzaTXsf
— Jeffrey A. Setaro (@jasetaro) December 6, 2022