Marriage Equality to Pass; Debt Limit Doubts
November 21, 2022.
When lawmakers return from Thanksgiving break, the Senate is poised to pass marriage equality legislation to protect same-sex marriage under Federal law.
Why it matters: The Respect for Marriage Act received support of 12 Senate Republicans in a key procedural vote last week after a bipartisan group of Senate sponsors made changes to the bill that included language to address religious liberty concerns by Republicans.
- The bill sponsors are: Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Nine additional Senate Republicans supported the procedural vote, along with all 50 Senate Democrats.
What's next: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delayed consideration of the legislation until after the election at the behest of senators who said it would garner more support that way. After it passes the Senate in December, the bill will have to go back to the House where there is significant bipartisan support, before it heads to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Also last week:
- The House and Senate started the lame-duck session. The most important unfinished business is government funding, and appropriators face a December 16 deadline. The defense authorization bill, $37.7 billion more in Ukraine aid, Electoral College reform and confirming more judges will be debated through the end of the year.
- A possible early vote to raise debt-limit is looking less likely. Chuck Schumer will attempt to lift the debt ceiling in a bipartisan manner during the Lame Duck, but House Republicans are loathe to authorize more government borrowing. Politico has more.
Last week, Congress spent most of its time on leadership elections by Republicans who are battling (both on and off Capitol Hill) over the future of their party. Read our story below for more information.
Contact Justin Ailes (jailes@crefc.org) for more information.