Same-sex marriage protection bill clears key hurdle in Senate - Axios

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.). Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.

The Respect for Marriage Act, a measure to codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriage, connected Wednesday cleared a large procedural hurdle successful the Senate aft garnering capable enactment from Senate Republicans.

Why it matters: A question to proceed to statement connected the measure passed 62-37, much than the 60 votes needed to interruption a Senate filibuster, signaling the authorities has the enactment to walk the chamber.

What caught our eye: A dozen Senate Republicans voted with each Democrats to walk the bill.

• Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) were progressive successful the effort to whip GOP votes for the measure and were expected to ballot for it.
• The others who voted for it were Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
• The measure was notably supported by the Mormon church.

What's next: If the amended measure passes the Senate, it volition spell backmost to the House for different vote. If it clears some chambers, it volition caput to President Biden's desk.

• Key House Democrats, including LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus Chair David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), person told Axios the changes apt won't support the House from passing the measure again.

The backdrop: The measure was introduced successful July aft Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' signaled successful a concurring sentiment successful Dobbs v. Jackson that rulings specified arsenic Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage, could beryllium nether threat.

• It passed the House aboriginal that period with the enactment of astir 50 Republicans.
• In the Senate, the bill's advancement slowed arsenic Republican senators demanded changes to clarify it wouldn't infringe connected spiritual liberty.
• It was yet punted until aft the Nov. 8 midterm election, with some aides successful some parties telling Axios that was the champion mode to garner GOP votes. On Monday, the bipartisan radical of senators moving connected the measure announced an agreement connected changes.

What they're saying: "Love is love, and Americans should person the close to wed the idiosyncratic they love," President Biden said successful a connection pursuing the vote. 

• Biden urged Congress to "quickly" nonstop the measure to his table and said he'd motion it into law.

This communicative has been updated with further details.