Congresswoman Bachmann is a vocal supporter of states rights and the tenth amendment. Consistent with these views, Congresswoman Bachmann has stated that short of a constitutional amendment, the federal government cannot interfere with marriage laws within the states.
Gay Marriage and the Tenth Amendment
In June of 2011, Congresswoman Bachmann participated in the New Hampshire Republican debate. When asked about what influence she would use as President to change state laws on marriage, she stated that it was not the role of the President to interfere with state laws.
Question: I know that you are opposed to same-sex marriage. As President, what influence would you use from the White House to try and overturn these state laws despite your own personal belief that states should handle their own personal affairs whenever possible.
Congresswoman Bachmann: Well, I do believe in the tenth amendment, and I do believe self determination for the states. I also believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I carried that legislation when I was a Senator in Minnesota. I believe that for children ... the best possible way to raise children is to have a mother and father in their life.
Now, I didn't come form a perfect background, my parents were divorced and I was raised by a single mother. There's a lot of single families and families with difficult situations. That's why my husband and I have broken hearts for at-risk kids, and it's why we took 23 foster children into our home.
Question: What would you do on a repeal law. Would you come into the state of New Hampshire for instance, and campaign on behalf of a repeal law.
Congresswoman Bachmann: I am running for the Presidency of the United States, and I don't see that it's the role of a President to go into states and interfere with their state laws.
In June of 2011, Congresswoman Bachmann appeared on Fox News and discussed the recent passage of same-sex marriage laws in New York. She notes that each state has the right to determine it's own laws, and that she believes that such a measure should be voted on by the people.
Congresswoman Bachmann: In New York State, they have passed the law at the state legislative level , and under the tenth amendment the states have the right to set the laws that they want to set.
Interviewer: So even though you oppose it, it's OK then from your point of view for New York to say that same sex marriage is legal.
Congresswoman Bachmann: That is up to the people of New York. I think that it is best to allow the people to decide on this issue. I think that it is best if there is an amendment that goes on the ballot so that people can weigh in. Every time that this issue has gone on the ballot, the people have voted to retain the traditional definition of marriage. As recently as California in 2008.
Interviewer: But you would agree that if it is passed by the state legislature and signed by the government then it's ....
Congresswoman Bachmann: It's state law, and the tenth amendment reserves to the states that right.
Iowa Debate
In August of 2011, Congresswoman Bachmann participated in the Republican debate in Ames, Iowa. She was asked if the government at any level could compel a citzen to purchase a product such as health insurance. She stated that she did not believe it could.
WALLACE: Congresswoman Bachmann, you are a big believer in the 10th Amendment and the idea of granting power to the states. So let me ask you: Does that make any difference whether mandatory health insurance is being imposed by a state or by the federal government?
BACHMANN: No, I don't believe that it does. I think that the government is without authority to compel a citizen to purchase a product or a service against their will, because effectively when the federal government does that, what they're doing is they are saying to the individual, they are going to set the price of what that product is.
If the federal government can force American citizens or if a state can force their citizens to purchase health insurance, there is nothing that the state cannot do. This is clearly an unconstitutional action, whether it's done at the federal level or whether it's the state level.
And I will not rest, as the president of the United States, until we repeal Obamacare. And as the nominee of the Republican Party, I also will not rest until I can also elect an additional 13 senators who agree with me so we'll have a filibuster-proof Senate and we can actually repeal Obamacare. (APPLAUSE)
Requires each Act of Congress to contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. Declares that failure to comply with this requirement shall give rise to a point of order in either chamber of Congress.
Requires each Act of Congress to contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. Declares that failure to comply with this requirement shall give rise to a point of order in either chamber of Congress.
