Almost 50 House Republicans joined Democrats to pass legislation on Tuesday that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enshrine marriage equality into federal law.
Why it matters: The legislation, approved 267-157, is part of Democrats' response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last month and conservative Justice Clarence Thomas signaling rulings on marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception could also be reconsidered.
- 47 Republicans voted for the legislation. Among the Republicans who voted yes were several members of leadership: House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and NRCC Chair Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), as well as Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the chair of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus.
- The bill even got support from all four members from Utah: Republican Reps. Blake Moore, Burgess Owens, Chris Stewart and John Curtis.
- It was not supported, however, by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) or Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.).
- House Republican leadership did not tell their members how to vote on the bill, but is instead advised them to vote their conscience, a senior GOP aide told Axios. The bill has one Republican sponsor, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), but none in the House.
Driving the news: A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday introduced the Respect for Marriage Act, which requires states to recognize all marriages if they were valid in the states they were performed.
- The bill was introduced by a group of top House and Senate Democrats as well as Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
- The bill also codifies the right to interracial marriage.
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