Democratic lawmakers in Congress may make one last push in the coming weeks to pass a number of bills — including one protecting the right to same-sex marriage — in the run-up to the midterm elections.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that he would vote on marriage equality but did not give it to reporters. he wouldn’t provide them with a “timetable”For when the vote would be held.
Some have criticized the impending election as a way to get more support for Democrats in the coming elections. Schumer’s aides told Politico The delay is to ensure that the bill can be passed.
To overcome a GOP filibuster, Democrats will need to have at least 10 Republican votes. This will allow them to codify the protections for marriage equality that were established by the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision. Obergefell v. Hodges. Many believe that decision has been endangered following the Court’s ruling this year to overturn the 1973 decision Roe v. Wade
Justice Clarence Thomas concurred in the case that ended abortion rights. He said that he and his fellow justices should do so. Reexamine other cases establishing rights based upon privacy protections — including Obergefell. His comments inspired Democrats to Pass a bill in the House addressing marriage equalityThis summer, the bill was voted on earlier. The Senate has not yet voted on the bill.
Democrats are confident they will be able to get 10 GOP votes in Senate. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), the lead sponsor of the bill who is also the first open lesbian elected to the Senate in U.S. history, plans to meet with GOP colleagues she’s been working with to “compare notes on their outreach efforts to build more support from Senate Republicans.”
At least three Republicans have voiced open support for the bill — Sens. Thom Tillis, Thom Tillis, and Rob Portman (R.Ohio). Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has also spoken positively to the bill.
“We’re in pretty good shape,” Collins has said about the legislation’s chance of passing.
But there are still many obstacles. The timeframe for passing the bill before the midterms shrinks, and Schumer indicated that his first priority was to get the nomination of federal judges by President Joe Biden in the chamber this week. Other priorities include passing a continuing resolution to fund the federal governmentThe potential for it to last for several weeks, if Republicans want.
Republicans have also expressed a reluctance at all to vote for the marriage equality bill. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), who previously said he saw “no reason” to oppose the legislation, has disparaged it as being unnecessary and accused Democrats of trying to play politics ahead of the midterms.
Johnson called the bill “another example of Democrats creating a state of fear over an issue in order to further divide Americans for their political benefit.” More recently, he indicated that he wouldn’t support the bill unless it includes a “religious freedom” amendmentThis could allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ persons.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), meanwhile, called the bill a “stupid waste of time” — Baldwin heard Baldwin make the comment and confronted Baldwin about itTake a look at the private area of an elevator.
Polling suggests that a majority of voters do not see the bill as a “waste of time,” however. According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted in late JulyA majority of Americans believe Congress should pass a bill protecting same-sex marriage rights. Only 32 percent disagree.
The bill also has President Joe Biden’s support. He has indicated that he will sign it into legislation if given the chance.
Biden “is a proud champion of the right for people to marry whom they love and is grateful to see bipartisan support for that right,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this summer. “He believes it is non-negotiable and that the Senate should act swiftly to get this to the president’s desk. He wants to sign this.”
