Senate to Hold Marriage Equality Vote in “Coming Weeks”
metroweekly.comThe Washington Post.The bill needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning at least 10 Senate Republicans would have to support it in order to end debate on the measure and hold a final up-or-down vote on it.The measure previously passed the House of Representatives in July, earning support from all of the lower chamber’s Democrats and 47 House Republicans.
The Senate is the final hurdle to passage.If the Senate approves the proposed religious liberty language additions, the legislation would have to head back to the Democratic-led House for passage.But while passage in the lower chamber would not be a problem, the scheduling of the vote in a limited window, as well other pieces of legislation demanding congressional members’ attention, may create additional hurdles.Because the bipartisan group of senators believes they have the necessary Republican votes to overcome a filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Wednesday that he plans to schedule a vote on the measure “in the coming weeks,” which would force Republicans to go on record ahead of the midterm elections.Collins has expressed concern that Schumer will play political games with the bill by delaying a vote on it, telling Politico that she hopes he will schedule a vote on the bill this month.Further complicating the issue, Congress must approve stopgap legislation to fund the government by Sept.
