Same-sex marriage ban might lack Congressional support

[TacticalPeek]

Same-sex marriage ban might lack
Congressional support

From Ted Barrett
CNN Washinton Bureau
Tuesday, February 24, 2004 Posted: 3:54 PM EST (2054 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President
Bush said Tuesday he would support a
constitutional amendment banning
same-sex marriage, but it is not clear
such an amendment would find sufficient
backing in Congress.

An amendment to the constitution
requires a two-thirds majority in both
the House and the Senate, and then
must be ratified by three-fourths, or
38, of the 50 states.

John Feehery, spokesman for
Republican House Speaker Dennis
Hastert, said it would be difficult for
Republican leaders to get the votes
required to pass any such
amendment. But he implied that it
might not matter. (Bush calls for
amendment)

"Sometimes you win for losing," he
said, noting the issue would draw a
clear line between Democrats and
Republicans, as well as between
President Bush and Massachusetts
Sen. John Kerry, front-runner for the
Democratic presidential nomination.
(Democrats react to Bush's
comments)

more
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.congress.marriage/


Hence, pure chain-pull.

[Wickerman]

1. Remember - he is uniter, not a divider

:eyes:

[TacticalPeek]

2. Who is Shrub worse than? Eeewwwwwww . . .

Josh Marshall at TalkingPointsMemo quotes an AP article that I haven't found yet.


House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas,
said he appreciated Bush's "moral leadership"
on the issue, but expressed caution about
moving too quickly toward a constitutional
solution, and never directly supported one. "This
is so important we're not going to take a
knee-jerk reaction to this," Delay said. "We are
going to look at our options and we are going to
be deliberative about what solutions we may
suggest."

[hippiechick]

3. Why have a Constitutional Amendment when Gitmo's still got space ?

Right, Tom ??? :mad:

These freaking morality patrol morons drive me insane.


:hippie:

[NewJerseyDem]

4. Constitutional amendment will never pass

First of all, both judiciary committee chairmen Jim Sensennbrenner and Orrin Hatch have basically said they won't support an amendment unless DOMA is struck down. However, I'll admit I'm not that confident in their backbone against pressure from the right. Also, in the Senate republicans Snowe, Chafee, Collins and Hagel all will oppose the amendment and there are several others that might oppose it as well. House Rules Committee chairman David Dreier says the issue should be left to the states (there have been many rumors that he is gay). I doubt that they can get enough democrats to overcome the loss of a significant number of republicans. 2/3s will not be reached, especially in the Senate for the current amendment.

However, if it is changed to be more like DOMA, except in constitutional amendment form, then I worry that something might pass, but I still doubt many democrats will go along.