WASHINGTON — The House crushed a bill Wednesday that would have revoked the Boy Scouts' federal charter because the group bans homosexual leaders.
It died on a 362-12 vote, with another 51 members — all Democrats — avoiding a direct stand by voting "present." Voting to defeat the bill were 216 Republicans, 144 Democrats and two independents.
The bill, pushed by a small group of Democrats, never had any serious chance of passage — but some say it was brought to the House floor as part of GOP maneuvering to embarrass their rivals.
It started when Democrats threatened to slow down House proceedings to protest refusal by GOP leaders to bring up more Democratic bills under special rules that allow streamlined consideration of non-controversial or commemorative bills.
Republicans responded by using such rules to bring up the anti-Scouts bill introduced by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., knowing it would be easily defeated and might force Democrats into embarrassing election-year votes against Scouts.
But Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, complained the bill had not been cleared by committee, no hearings had been held and the sponsor had not requested its consideration. "We can assume only that it was part of a political stunt," he said.
He added that GOP leaders care more about such maneuvers than "children killed or made victims because of their sexual orientation. . . . They will not stand up to gay bashing."
Conyers called for Democrats not to vote for or against the bill, and instead vote "present" — which members normally do only when they have a conflict of interest on a bill. It would cloud exactly who was for and against the bill.
Utah's House members condemned that. "Voting 'present' in a serious battle in the cultural wars shows they are not willing to stand up and take a position," said Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, whose views were echoed by Reps. Jim Hansen and Merrill Cook.
The bill was debated Tuesday evening, but a final vote was delayed until Wednesday afternoon.
Woolsey said she introduced the bill, even though she had a son who was a Scout, because "I know the value of Scouting, and that's why I believe Scouting should be available to all boys, not just some boys."
The Boy Scouts got their federal charter in 1916, six years after it was founded. It is one of about 90 groups with such designation, an honorary title given to patriotic, charitable and education organizations.
While it confers no specific benefits, receiving a federal charter is a mark of prestige and national recognition for a group. Among other groups with federal charters are the American Legion, Future Farmers of America, the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the National Ski Patrol.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the Boy Scouts have the right to exclude gays as leaders, but gay activists have mounted pressure against them, including persuading many businesses to drop donations. Also, the Clinton administration this month reviewed whether a federal policy against discrimination of gays should prohibit Scout use of federal land.
Utah's House members condemned such continuing attacks against the Boy Scouts.
Hansen said, "What the Boy Scouts teach most is character. Attacking them for standing up for what they believe is ridiculous."
Cannon said, "Today's attack goes beyond just the Boy Scouts. It is an attack upon the fundamental values that built America."
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