Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
A conservative Republican in the U.S. Senate who previously indicated he sees “no reason to oppose” legislation seeking to codify same-sex marriage is changing his tune, calling it “completely unnecessary” in remarks that could undermine efforts to pass the bill.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who made the remarks Aug. 21 during an interview with Wisconsin TV station WISN, said the Respect for Marriage Act was simply a political ploy from congressional Democrats about an issue that has already been resolved.
“This is just Democrats opening up a wound that had really healed,” Johnson said. “I have always been supportive of civil unions, and the Supreme Court ruled on gay marriage and I said, ‘OK, that’s the decision, let’s move on.’”
Johnson, speaking to WISN at the Kenosha County Fair, predicted he think the U.S. Supreme Court won’t overturn same-sex marriage as it did abortion rights in the recent Dobbs decision, which forms the basis for him calling the measure “completely unnecessary.”
“The decision on gay marriage will never be overturned,” Johnson said. “it’s completely different than Roe v. Wade and the Dobbs decision. This is where stare decisis would be decisive. I do not see the Supreme Court overturning that because they would impact millions of people that acted on that.”
Religious objections were key issue for Johnson. Asked about a potential amendment for religious objections proposed by the bill’s supporters, Johnson said that issue was a “legitimate concern” and would need to see any proposed fix. Johnson said he’s working on his own amendment to address the issue.
Johnson, however, never said during outright the interview he would vote “no” on the Respect for Marriage Act.
The new comments from Johnson are consistent with a report in Axios where he sought to clarify his earlier statement: “I’ve never said I would support it,” Johnson was quoted as saying. “I said I didn’t see a reason to oppose it.”
The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced and passed in the U.S. House after U.S. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas wrote his in concurring opinion overturning Roe v. Wade he’d like to revisit other decisions, including the 2015 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of same-sex marriage. Although the legislation wouldn’t codify same-sex marriage at the federal level per se, it would repeal from the books the now defunct anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act and require states to recognize same-sex marriage performed elsewhere.
The latest from Johnson gives credence to fears among supporters of the legislation that a prolonged wait on a vote on the measure of the Senate would making it passing more difficult as groups against LGBTQ rights campaign against it. Johnson, for example, was the target of messaging from social conservatives who objected to his earlier comments against opposing the legislation.
