Obviously the reason is that some are claiming that issuing same sex marriage licenses violates their religious beliefs, and the legal questions that raises. The national government is telling them to do one thing - the state government is trying to give them cover to not do it.
I'll provide some detail on the position since its suddenly topical, but to catch up on the specifics of the controversy, click on these:
- Texas AG tells clerks they can flout Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.
- Court clerks can't take licenses with their duties.
- There Are Still at Least 60 Texas Counties Not Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses.
- Gay Couple to Sue Hood County Clerk Over Marriage License.
- Texas county clerks felt betrayed by Texas leaders on gay marriage, emails show.
- 5th Circuit tells courts to issue same-sex marriage rulings.
- Gay Marriage Issue Roils Texas Town.
