Senate votes to advance same-sex marriage bill
by Al Weaver - 11/16/22 4:06 PM ET
The Senate on Wednesday voted to start debate on legislation that would codify same-sex marriage protections, paving the way for it to pass by the end of the week.
Senators voted 62-37 to advance the measure, with 12 Republicans joining with every Democrat in support. Lawmakers are expected to vote again tomorrow to invoke cloture, potentially setting up a final vote by the end of the week.
“This legislation unites Americans,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the lone senator who identifies as a lesbian, said on the Senate floor before the vote. “With the Respect For Marriage Act, we can ease the fear for millions of same-sex and interracial couples have that their freedoms and their rights could be stripped away.
“By passing this bill, we are guaranteeing same-sex and interracial couples regardless of where they live that their marriage is legal and that they will continue to enjoy the rights and the responsibilities that all other marriages are afforded. And this will give millions of loving couples the certainty, the dignity and the respect that they need and that they deserve,” Baldwin continued, adding that it would help remove “the weight of the world” from the backs of such couples.
A vote on the original bill in late September was punted until after the midterms due to the lack of GOP support prior to Election Day.
A number of Republicans finally came on board to back the proposal after a group of five senators, headed by Baldwin and Susan Collins (R-Maine), unveiled an amendment on Monday that contained religious freedom provisions.
Along with Collins, GOP Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Todd Young (Ind.) voted to advance the proposal.
Only Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who is stepping away from Washington to serve as president of the University of Florida, did not vote.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3738525-senate-votes-to-advance-same-sex-marriage-bill/
