Prior to passage of an appropriations bill the US House passed, via voice vote, an amendment that specifically prohibits funding for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, PageOneQ has found. The Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for FY07 was amended with the addition of the following amendment, introduced by Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa):

HR 5576 Offered by Mr. King of Iowa None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for the construction, expansion, renovation, or building of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

A press release Rep. King's website which touted the amendment as saving taxpayers from funding "politial activity." The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center is a 501(c)3 organization providing programs such as drug counseling, HIV risk reduction, and health related services.

An announcement of the passage of the amendment on the conservative organization Concerned Women For America's website stated that the amendment had "eliminated an earmark of $300,000 in the Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill (H.R. 5576)..."

The Congressmember representing the L.A. Center is Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA). Messages left at the offices Rep. Waxman, Majrity Leader Nancy Pelosi, and the LA center were unreturned by press time. Updates will be added as they arrive.

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Statement from Rep. King's website

King Amendment Passes House: Taxpayers Should Not have to Fund Political Advocacy

Washington, D.C.� The U.S. House today passed an amendment by Iowa Congressman Steve King that prevents taxpayers from footing the bill for construction of a gay and lesbian center in Los Angeles.

The amendment, which strikes an earmark for the center, was made part of . The Chairman accepted the amendment and the House voted to approve it.

�This is what happens when Washington is addicted to earmarks,� said King. �Taxpayers end up funding, without their knowledge, an organization that lobbies and advocates for same-sex marriage.�

�The gay and lesbian center in Los Angeles is free to advocate their views, but I do not believe that taxpayers should be forced to subsidize an organization that is so radically opposed to traditional values the overwhelming majority of Americans hold dear.�