A group of well over 400 both current and former establishment GOP officials have sounded the call for U.S. legislators to enshrine the same-sex marriage bill into law before any vote makes it to the Senate floor by the end of the month.
Ken Mehlman, the Former Republican National Committee chairman and President Bush reelection campaign manager who has since unveiled that he himself is a homosexual, spearheaded the attempts to garner support for the bill and has partnered up with Centerline Action, a new nonprofit group, as reported by The Washington Post.
“We call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act and reaffirm that marriage for gay and lesbian couples is settled law,” stated the letter.
The letter also states that the passing of the Respect for Marriage Act would “remove any uncertainty for the more than one million Americans who are building families, taking on the responsibilities and commitment associated with marriage, and caring for the one they love.”
“As Republicans and conservatives, we believe strong families and lasting relationships strengthen communities, and civil marriage is a fundamental freedom central to individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” continued the letter.
This letter comes to light just a week in the wake of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) issuing a vow to hold a vote to officially codify same-sex marriage just before the midterm elections coming this November.
In a 267-157 vote last month, which sports 47 House Republicans voting in favor of the bill, the Respect for Marriage Act managed to make it through the House of Representatives.
Senate Democrats are now seeking to secure a total of 10 GOP votes, which will be enough to get past the 60-vote filibuster threshold, in order to get it past the Senate floor and up to Old Uncle Joe’s desk, who has stated he intends to sign the bill once it reaches him.
As of writing, a group of three Senate Republicans, which includes Thom Tillis (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Rob Portman (R-OH), have been telling the press that they plan to issue a yes vote for the bill. Nine others have labeled themselves as potential backers as well, as reported by The Hill.
Collins has joined forces with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in order to try and sway the minds of enough voters from the Republican side of the aisle but has seen some pretty harsh pushback from various Senate Republicans, highlighting religious liberty and conscience protection concerns.