Senate Democrats Offer Early Vote on Gay Marriage

[Blackaxe]

Senate Republicans began arguing their case on Friday for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage as Democrats signaled that they were willing to drop procedural hurdles and allow a vote on the proposal next week.

At the same time, President Bush restated his backing for the politically charged amendment, telling a crowd in Pennsylvania that the issue of gay marriage should be settled through ratification of a constitutional amendment rather than left up to the courts.

"What they do in the privacy of their house, consenting adults should be able to do," Mr. Bush said. "This is America. It's a free society. But it doesn't mean we have to redefine traditional marriage."

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic whip, said Democrats would not mount a filibuster against moving to a final vote on the amendment as long as Republicans agreed not to offer changes to the proposal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/10/politics/10amend.html

[Freya]

1. It was great

I saw the senator that looked like Daschle (can't recall his name) on cspan today challenging them to start right now. He said there would be no procedural interference from the dems and he was ready to "rock and roll". Obviously we have to votes to put the FMA down.

It was great. Can't wait for the repub humiliation to start on monday.

This is what they get for letting the nut case far right take over their party.

[Blackaxe]

3. Yeah, that was Harry Reid. They've got that quote in the story here.

[rpannier]

4. Probably Senator Reid D-NV n/t

[newyawker99]

10. Hi Freya!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rpannier]

2. Hoorah for Sen Leahy

For telling it like it is:

Only one Democrat, Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, joined in the debate on Friday, accusing Republicans of promoting a divisive issue during an election year rather than concentrating on more important topics.

"Political expedience, whatever it takes, seems to be the leadership's guidepost, not the pressing needs of the country," Mr. Leahy said

[cardlaw]

5. Interesting quote from *

"What they do in the privacy of their house, consenting adults should be able to do," Mr. Bush said. "This is America. It's a free society. But it doesn't mean we have to redefine traditional marriage."

Funny, he seemed to have a problem with gays having sex back when he was governor (see Lawrence v. Texas).

[Q3JR4]

6. Well,

that's not the popular opinion now.

[Ediacara]

7. We have the votes to beat it

And not only to beat it, but to humiliate it. When the FMA was first proposed, there was a frenzy on DU trying to get a headcount, and IIRC, we have 49 definite NO votes (including 11 Republicans), and probably close to 60 no votes (including the undecideds based on their past voting habits).

All we need is 34 no's to kill the FMA, and we definitely have it. I am not worried, and I know the Dem leadership isn't, which is probably why they're willing to push this through.

ESPECIALLY with so many Republicans willing to vote no, and crazy Zell Miller being the only Democrat voting yes.

[Ediacara]

8. NUMBERS

Ok, so I looked in the archives and found the thread. The numbers as of February, are as follows:

---------------

* Denotes a Senator that needs a formal confirmation but appears to be in the right list.

** Denotes a Senator that has made statements leaning him or her into a particular list, but also has wishy-washy if's, and's, or but's associated.

FOR
Allard (R-CO)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Chamblis (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN) **
Cornyn (R-TX)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Fitzgereld (R-IL)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA) **
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
McConnell (R-KY)
Miller (D-GA)
Nickles (R-OK) *
Roberts (R-KA) **
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Stevens (R-AK) *
Talent (R-MO)

Minimum for 25, possibly 30.

AGAINST
Alexander (R-TN)
Allen (R-VA) **
Baucus (D-MT) *
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Breaux (D-LA)
Burns (R-MT) **
Campbell (R-CO)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corzine (D-NJ
Daschle (D-SD)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Edwards (D-NC)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Feingold (D-WI)
Graham (D-FL)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenburg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ) *
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Snowe (R-ME) **
Specter (R-PA) **
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Minimum 46, possibly 51.

UNDECIDED
Akaka (D-HI)
Bennett (R-UT)
Byrd (D-WV)
Dewine (R-OH)
Gregg (R-NH)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Hollings (D-SC)
Inouye (D-HI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Voinovich (R-OH)

So far 11 undecideds, 3 may lean for, 6 may lean against, and the other 2 are a toss up.

There are still 8 Senators we have not heard from.

We need something from: Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), Enzi (R-WY), Levin (D-MI), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sununu (R-NH), Thomas (R-WY), and Warner (R-VA).

--------------------

If anyone has any revised information, please post it. It would be worthwhile to get an updated list and send it to the media.

[justin899]

9. That list is kinda dated

Some of those people on that list as a "No" have crossed over due to public pressure (Alexander being one and I think there are a couple of others).

An anti-gay marriage site (http://www.protectmarriagerally.com/) which seems to be up to date as they have their members "burn up the phone lines" and report back daily puts the count at 36-YES, 46-NO, and 18 Undecided.

If that tally is accurate then they obviously don't have the votes to pass the Amendment in the Senate (but they will likely keep brining it up year after year until they succeed).

But while eveyrone is focusing on the Amendment in the Senate, Tom Delay is busy scheduling a vote for the amendment just before the election. The amendment may not pass in the House either..but they also have a bill which would strip federal courts jurisdiction over hearing DOMA cases http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040624-112909-3346r.htm.

This law is disgusting. If it passes all DOMA cases will have to be heard in state courts. It was introduced back in May but Tom Delay has moved the vote up to just before the November elections.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi justin889!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jandar]

13. Move Bennett to the yea column...

his Mormon taskmasters announced their support last week.

[UVAlaw]

12. Virginia Senators

Warner (VA) is voting for the FMA. I contacted both Virginia senators and urged them to vote against but they both blew me off. Glad to see that it isn't going to pass. I was initially concerned it might come close but I doubt the bill even gets a majority.

[CRK7376]

14. So if Shrub is so against

gay marriage and is pushing for an amendment, then where does this statement fit in the picture...."What they do in the privacy of their house, consenting adults should be able to do," Mr. Bush said. "This is America. It's a free society. But it doesn't mean we have to redefine traditional marriage." What a jackass. Hurry up NOVEMBER!