Update on the FMA Debate in the Senate ...

by Cliopatria

Today, the Senate voted not to bring up the Constitutional amendment to bar recognition of gay marriages. On the procedural vote, 45 Republicans and 3 Democrats (Zell Miller, Georgia; Ben Nelson, Nebraska; and Robert Byrd, West Virginia) voted to end debate and vote on such an amendment. 43 Democrats, 6 Republicans (Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, Maine; John Sununu, New Hampshire; Lincoln Chaffee, Rhode Island; Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado; and John McCain, Arizona) and 1 Independent (James Jeffords, Vermont) voted not to bring the amendment to a vote on the Senate floor. Senators John Kerry and John Edwards did not vote on the procedural motion.

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Ralph E. Luker - 7/15/2004

Sorry, Hugo, I mis-spoke. Apparently, Senator Judd Gregg (R, New Hampshire) did support cloture. But as Andrew Sullivan points out, perhaps as many as a dozen Republican Senators would have voted against the amendment itself, had it come to that.

Ralph E. Luker - 7/15/2004

Hugo, I haven't seen a public statement by Sununu about his vote. Publicly, he was undeclared until he cast his vote. It's worth noting that every senator from New England, except John Kerry, voted to sustain the filabuster on the issue. I suspect that Sununu may have had reservations about precipitous amendments to the Constitution. Its also worth noting that some Republicans, such as John Warner of Virginia, voted to end debate on the Amendment but would also have voted against its adoption.

Hugo Schwyzer - 7/14/2004

I always thought Sununu was a water-carrier for the far right... what's up with him? A little Yankee common sense manifesting at this late date?