Republican Senator Tries to Halt D.C. Gay Marriages with Amendment to the Health Care Bill

"Sen. Robert S. Bennett (R-Utah) has introduced an amendment (to the health care reform bill) that would suspend the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples (in Washington D.C.) until the issue could be put before voters. Bennett is emerging as the most stalwart congressional opponent to same-sex marriage in the District. Earlier this month, he sought to attach a similar amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill. But that amendment was ruled out of order. Bennett's latest attempt to force a referendum on the city's same-sex marriage law, which went into effect March. 3, has the support of GOP Sens. Roger Wicker (Miss), Pat Roberts (Kansas), Orrin Hatch (Utah), James M. Inhofe (Ok), and John Cornyn (Texas), according to the DCist blog. But Senate Democrats, who are trying to keep all GOP amendments off the reconciliation bill, are widely expected to kill Bennett's amendment, which was first reported by the New York Times."

NYT — "Bennett amendment: To protect the Democratic process and the right of the people of the District of Columbia to define marriage. (#3568)"