WASHINGTON CO. TO ISSUE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES

  

Washington County officials say they will abide by the Supreme Court decision and issue licenses for same-sex marriages.

In a statement issued by Washington County Judge John Brieden and County Clerk Beth Rothermel, they said they will, “…follow the law as it has been established by the Supreme Court.”

Washington County joins numerous counties across the state who are issuing the licenses to same-sex couples, despite instructions from the state’s Attorney General that they could refuse to do so on religious grounds.

The Washington County statement goes on to say, “To refuse to follow the law because we do not agree with the law would subject Washington County to certain law suits.”

Brieden says such suits would, “…entail hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees and potentially much more in penalties.”

Brieden says that money would have to come from either: higher taxes, cuts in services or cuts of employees.