The DOMA repeal bill, known as the “Respect for Marriage Act,” was debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning and passed by a 10-8 vote. Supporters and sponsors including Senators Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein, Al Franken, Chuck Schumer, Amy Klobuchar, Sheldon Whitehouse Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Coons, all delivered eloquent arguments in favor of repealing the 1996 federal bill that bans same-sex marriages from being recognized by the federal government. Senators Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Sessions, Orin Hatch, and Tom Coburn all relied on religious and procreation arguments to attempt to derail the bill moving forward.
Committee Chair Patrick Leahy told the group that “thousands of American families are being treated unfairly by their federal government,” arguing that repealing DOMA is “the next step on the path toward equality.”
But despite 30 sponsors in the full Senate, it appears the bill may not move forward for an up or down vote as sponsors don’t believe they can muster 60 votes for passage. it is highly doubtful any Republican would vote to repeal DOMA.
Here are a few key statements from today’s hearing:
Chuck Schumer: “Repealing DOMA respects states rights to make their own decisions on marriage.â€
Sheldon Whitehouse: “I have had the privilege of hearing from numerous Rhode Islanders…who are prejudiced needlessly under this law….We owe them better…We should treat [their] commitment with respect…It’s the federalist thing to do.â€
Al Franken: “The suffering that DOMA causes and will cause is very real, and it’s cruel.” “Doma hurts people… DOMA hurts families.”
Franken was as usual one of the most intelligent and well-prepared speakers. He politely and respectfully schooled Senator Grassley on the history of marriage. “We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.
Many in the GOP also claimed that there were far more important issues to take up, forcing blogger Joe.My.God. on Twitter to note that their colleagues in the House had just void to affirm “In God We Trust” as a national motto.
Senator Grassley made the argument that if DOMA was good enough in 1996, and that if the Constitution has not changed, DOMA is good enough now.
Senator Feinstein noted that there were now 131,000 or more same-sex married couples that DOMA discriminates against, not allowing them to access over 1100 federal benefits.
We’ll have more DOMA news later, and a video if we van grab one. Know that this is a big deal, and as Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry noted, it builds momentum.
For more, see also The Washington Blade’s report, MetroWeekly’s report,and Courage Campaign’s report.