Reported: Bipartisan Marriage Equality (Sufficient Senate Votes To Pass )

[Sonny Tufts]

there are over 1,400 federal laws that treat people differently based upon marital status

Not to mention similar laws passed by state legislatures, including those dealing with intestacy, civil actions for wrongful death, and community property.

 

[Matt Collins]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtznN7V_MYc​

 

[Voluntarist]

Passes the Senate

The bill was passed 61 to 36, with 60 votes needed for passage. Twelve Republicans joined 49 Democrats in supporting the bill. One Democrat, Georgia's Raphael Warnock, was absent, as were two Republican senators.

A similar, but not identical, bill passed the House of Representatives earlier this year with support from 47 Republicans and all Democrats. The House would need to approve the Senate version before it is sent to President Joe Biden to sign into law.

 

[Snowball]

There are complete and total religious exemptions in this bill
It does protect churches and individual businesses that do not have to serve
Also, nothing is actually codified without a Cons. Amendment.

Therefore it's just a bill, nothing more. It can be overturned by another Congress and President.
It can also be ignored by SCOTUS and deemed Uncons. on many grounds including State Rights.

 

[Sonny Tufts]

It can also be ignored by SCOTUS and deemed Uncons. on many grounds including State Rights.

Maybe not. The bill doesn't require a state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It requires a state to recognize a marriage that was entered into in a state where such a marriage was legal. Congress' authority to enact such a requirement is arguably the Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause:

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

 

[Snowball]

Maybe not. The bill doesn't require a state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It requires a state to recognize a marriage that was entered into in a state where such a marriage was legal. Congress' authority to enact such a requirement is arguably the Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause:

You said "maybe", and that's correct. It is unresolved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Faith_and_Credit_Clause

 

[Todd]

The arguments exist because a majority wanted to use the force of government to control other people's legal contracts.

Yep that's the truth. If there wasn't government goodies on the line for relationship contracts, then this would have never been an issue.

If two people want to cohabitate and then get the benefits of cohabitation that is granted to others who choose to do so, then even as I am a Christian, I can't tell them they can't do that.