On July twenty-ninth the House voted to withhold funds that would be used to enforce San Francisco’s new law, which requires companies that do business with the city to offer health and other benefits to same-sex domestic partners. Rep. Frank Riggs, R-California, sponsored and defended the amendment saying, “We should not force or coerce private business to adopt policies they find morally objectionable.” However, the San Francisco Ordinance does not force companies to do anything. It simply allows the city to deny business from companies it finds morally objectionable.
While Riggs spoke passionately on behalf of his amendment he did not have as many vocal supporters as did the opposition. The amendment was passed quietly and shamefully.
