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Joseph Hoeffel on Civil Rights

Former Democratic Rep (PA-13); 2004 former Senate challenger


Oppose gay marriage but support civil union

I oppose gay marriage but support civil union.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer Oct 10, 2004

Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Marriage Protection Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Prohibits the Constitution or any State constitution from being construed to require that marital status or its legal incidents be conferred upon any union other than that of a man and a woman.
Reference: Constitutional Amendment sponsored by Rep Musgrave [R, CO-4]; Bill H.J.RES.106 ; vote number 2004-484 on Sep 30, 2004

Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pledge Protection Act: Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any Federal court, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance or its validity under the Constitution.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Rep Todd Akin [R, MO-2]; Bill H.R.2028 ; vote number 2004-467 on Sep 23, 2004

Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration.

Desecration of Flag resolution: Vote to pass the joint resolution to put forward a Constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Note: A two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting (284 in this case) is required to pass a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution.
Reference: Resolution sponsored by Thomas, R-CA; Bill HJRes.4 ; vote number 2003-234 on Jun 3, 2003

Voted NO on banning gay adoptions in DC.

Vote on an amendment banning adoptions in District of Columbia by gays or other individuals who are not related by blood or marriage.
Reference: Amendment introduced by Largent, R-OK; Bill HR 2587 ; vote number 1999-346 on Jul 29, 1999

Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.

Hoeffel sponsored a Constitutional Amendment:

Title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to equal rights for men and women. Summary: States that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HJR40 on Mar 22, 2001

Rated 87% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record.

Hoeffel scores 87% by the ACLU on civil rights issues

We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor. If the rights of society’s most vulnerable members are denied, everybody’s rights are imperiled.

Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.

Source: ACLU website 02n-ACLU on Dec 31, 2002

Other candidates on Civil Rights: Joseph Hoeffel on other issues:
PA Gubernatorial:
Ed Rendell
PA Senatorial:
Alan Sandals
Arlen Specter
Bob Casey
Chuck Pennacchio
Rick Santorum
Tom Martin

2004 Presidential:
Pres.George W. Bush
V.P.Dick Cheney
Sen.John Kerry
Sen.John Edwards
Ralph Nader

2008 possibilities:
Sen.Hillary Clinton
Sen.John McCain
V.P.Al Gore

2006 Senate retirements:
Jon Corzine(D,NJ)
Mark Dayton(DFL,MN)
Bill Frist(R,TN)
Jim Jeffords(I,VT)
Paul Sarbanes(D,MD)
2006 Senate Races:
(AZ)Kyl v.Pederson
(CA)Feinstein v.Mountjoy
(CT)Lieberman v.Lamont
(DE)Carper v.Protack
(FL)Nelson v.Harris
(HI)Akaka v.Case
(MA)Kennedy vScott vMacdonald
(MD)Mfume v.Cardin v.Steele
(ME)Snowe v.Bright v.Mehnert
(MI)Stabenow v.Butler v.Zandstra
(MN)Kennedy v.Bell v.Klobuchar
(MO)Talent v.McCaskill
(MS)Lott v.Fleming
(MT)Burns v.Morrison v.Tester
(ND)Conrad v.Grotberg
(NE)Nelson v.Kramer v.Stenberg
(NJ)Menendez v.Kean
(NM)Bingaman v.Pfeffer
(NV)Ensign v.Carter
(NY)Clinton v.Spencer vMcFarland
(OH)DeWine vHackett vBrown
(PA)Santorum v.Casey
(RI)Chafee vBrown vWhitehouse
(TN)Ford v.Kurita v.Bryant v.Hilleary
(TX)Hutchison v.Radnofsky
(UT)Hatch v.Ashdown
(VT)Sanders v.Parke v.Drown
(VA)Allen v.Miller v.Webb
(WA)Cantwell v.McGavick
(WI)Kohl v.Vogeler v.Redick
(WV)Byrd v.Lawhorn
(WY)Thomas v.Groutage
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