Senate delays vote on marriage equality bill until after midterm elections
CBSN
Washington — The Senate will delay a vote on legislation enshrining marriage equality into federal law until after the November elections, members said Thursday, a move GOP negotiators believe will spur more support for the proposal from their Republican colleagues who are seeking religious liberty protections.
The group of five senators involved in the talks over a bipartisan plan to protect same-sex marriage said in a statement that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to their request for additional time on the legislation.
"The Respect for Marriage Act is a simple but important step which provides certainty to millions of Americans in loving marriages," the senators said. "Through bipartisan collaboration, we've crafted commonsense language that respects religious liberty and Americans' diverse beliefs, while upholding our view that marriage embodies the highest ideals of love, devotion, and family."
