Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1996 07:25:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Kenneth Sherrill <ksherril@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu>
Subject: Kolbe's Statement



---------- Forwarded message ----------
  
  KOLBE STATEMENT:
  
  Twenty years ago, when I first sought public office, I made a decision
  that
  my commitment to civic involvement would mean my public life would have
  to
  come ahead of my personal and private life.
  
  I have, in the intervening 20 years, sought to fulfill my public
  responsibilities in a manner that benefits all those I have represented
  in
  either the Arizona Legislature or in Congress. I will continue that
  commitment as long as I am in public service.
  
  I look back on what I have accomplished for Southern Arizona since I
  came to
  Congress nearly 12 years ago, and I am proud of the record I have
  compiled.
  
  I have led the fight to keep Arizona and America's economy strong and
  growing by opening new markets around the world; NAFTA was the capstone
  of
  this vision. I have fought to lower the crushing tax burden on our
  families
  by reducing taxes. I have worked for six years as a member of the budget
  committee to achieve a balanced budget so we can relieve our children
  of the
  burden of a crushing national debt. I have worked to keep Arizona's
  reputation as the astronomy capital of the world by assuring that new
  advances in astronomy will go forward here. I have argued and won funds
  to
  protect our natural heritage, including the expansion of Saguaro
  National
  Park. And, just this week we achieved the most sweeping, most important
  reform of welfare in decades. There is, of course, much more, but this
  is a
  record I believe I can point to with justifiable pride.
  
  I am just as proud of my record in the area of human rights and
  individual
  rights. I abhor and vigorously oppose discrimination in the workplace
  based
  on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation - any treatment that
  is not
  based on merit. I fought to repeal the provision in law which requires
  an
  automatic discharge of any armed services member who is HIV-positive. I
  support health benefits for domestic partners.
  
  I also believe that if the citizens of Hawaii believe it to be in their
  public interest to permit same-sex marriages, they should be permitted
  to do
  so. By the same token, other states - as Arizona has done - should be
  allowed to define marriage differently, and not be required to accept
  the
  definition adopted by others. It is for this reason that I voted for the
  so-called Defense of Marriage Act when it was before the House a few
  weeks
  ago.
  
  Now, however, there are some who have decided that their disagreement
  with
  this particular vote warrants their making public information about my
  private life - information they may have heard second- or third-hand
  about
  my sexual orientation.
  
  That I am a gay person has never affected the way that I legislate. The
  fact
  that I am gay has never, nor will it ever, change my commitment to
  represent
  all the people of Arizona's 5th District. I am the same person, one who
  has
  spent many years struggling to relieve the tax burden for families,
  balance
  the budget for our children's future, and improve the quality of life we
  cherish in Southern Arizona. I intend to continue that mission if the
  voters
  of the 5th District, in their wisdom, decide that I should represent
  them in
  the 105th Congress.
  

End of returned message