Schuette Announces Run For Re-Election, Offers No Opinion On Validity Of Weekend Gay Marriages
WEST BLOOMFIELD (WWJ) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette officially announced his intention to run for another term as the state's attorney general.
"I'm here today, in Oakland County, with my wife, to announce that I'm running for re-election as Attorney General of the great state of Michigan," said Schuette.
During a stop in West Bloomfield Schuette said his track record in establishing tougher laws against human traffickers, his support of the police and fire pensions in the Detroit bankruptcy, and his support of abolishing race criteria in college admissions are among several of his first term achievements.
Schuette made his first comments since a federal judge in Detroit overturned Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage ... and the court of appeals granted a stay on the judgement.
"I took an oath as attorney general to protect and defend the constitution and I'm going to fulfill that oath," he said.
Schuette would not comment on the validity of the marriages obtained by gay couples this weekend, but said the issue will ultimately be determined by the courts. But added that he remains an opponent of same-sex marriage.
"Two point seven million citizens voted for this amendment and I think their will should stand and be respected but again this is our system, the final word will be by the United States Supreme Court, that's how it works," he said.
In Lansing, Gov. Rick Snyder's office said that state agencies won't immediately recognize hundreds of same-sex marriages that were performed in the hours before an appeals court put on hold a judge's ruling that tossed out a state ban on gay marriage.
His office says Snyder is waiting until the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati decides whether to extend the hold on the ruling. That's expected no sooner than Wednesday.
