Senate Democrats are trying to pass a bill that will allow people to marry people of their own sex.

Currently same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, AND it is clear that theocrats on the SCOTUS want to take an ax to that. If Congress passes a law to specifically allow same-sex marriage, it might make it more difficult for the Supreme Court to rule that marriage is a matter for the states and not the federal government. In other words, maybe the Democrats have learned that our SCOTUS is totally a political organization and a threat to our civil rights.

Politico, aka "Tiger Beat on the Potomac" (thanks Charlie Pierce!) email thingie alerts us to some movement to codify Marriage Equality before our illegitimate SCOTUS gets their hands on it:

The status of the marriage bill. Sens. TAMMY BALDWIN (D-Wis.), SUSAN COLLINS (R-Maine) and KYRSTEN SINEMA (D-Ariz.) are leading the negotiations. Schumer world will be looking for signs of Republican support — especially after Tuesday’s GOP lunch, where it is sure to be discussed. Don’t expect quick action this week. Per a Dem aide: “The earliest Schumer could file cloture on a marriage agreement would be the end of the week, when the Senate finishes processing the circuit court judges currently in the queue.”

What’s holding it up? Republicans want a carve-out so that business owners can discriminate against LGBTQ people, you know, in the name of religious freedom:

The same-sex marriage bill that won over nearly 50 House Republicans is now at risk of falling to a Senate GOP filibuster — with its vote count largely hinging on how it addresses religious liberty.

While proponents publicly say they’re optimistic the bill will get the 10 GOP votes it needs during a floor vote expected the week of Sept. 19, senators and aides close to the effort say many Republicans may wait until the last minute to decide. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are drafting an amendment aimed at satisfying conservative concerns that the bill — backed in its current form by two members of House GOP leadership — risks infringing on religious freedom.

You see, it is much more important that a landlord can kick out gay people than it is that gay people can marry, or that a business owner can deny healthcare insurance to the spouse of one of those people.

If Baldwin and Collins can’t break a Republican filibuster with their religious freedom pitch, it would mark a stunning turnaround from a July vote that saw 47 House GOP lawmakers in favor. It would also hand Democrats a potent preelection example of the GOP blocking legislation on an issue that’s broadly popular with the public. But only one Republican incumbent, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson, is poised to feel much of a sting from wavering on the bill, and he’s indicated he would vote no on the current version.

Well, that’s the politics of it, anyway. My guess is that the Republicans will let the SCOTUS do their dirty work for them.

Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors.