JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) leaders called on Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to defend the Missouri Constitution and thwart Gov. Jay Nixon’s announcement Nov. 14 (today) that he would allow gay couples married in other states to file joint returns in Missouri.
“This is a flagrant disregard for the will of the people of Missouri,” said MBC Executive Director John Yeats.
MBC Director of Public Policy Don Hinkle called Nixon’s action “reckless” and warned there could be repercussions for Nixon’s party. “The people of Missouri spoke clearly about marriage in this state being strictly between a man and a woman. There will be an election for a new governor in 2014. We urge Attorney General Chris Koster to defend the Missouri Constitution and the sanctity of traditional marriage against this shameful act. This is a sad day for Missouri.”
Missouri voters, by a 71 percent to 29 percent margin, amended the state Constitution in 2004, prohibiting same-sex marriages from being legally performed or recognized in Missouri. Every county voted in favor of Amendment 2, with only the independent city of St. Louis voting against it.
Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones reacted to Nixon’s action as well: “Once again, Governor Nixon is trying to play to all sides of every issue, indulging his liberal ideals while hedging his bets by saying the courts have forced his hand. The Governor’s job is to defend our state’s constitution – including the constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, that was passed overwhelmingly in this state – not to surrender to the whims of the Obama administration. This executive order is nothing but an attempt to violate the voters’ will, unlawfully ignoring a constitutional amendment to provide the Governor’s liberal allies a policy victory. Furthermore, I would call upon Gov. Nixon to supply the legal opinion from Attorney General Koster providing the justification for the action he took today in ignoring the Constitution of the State of Missouri.”