11/11/11: Senate Dems Try Repeal of DOMA

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Senate Democrats who back gay marriage want to repeal a federal law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. While the Democrats may satisfy their gay marriage supporters, the bill won’t get very far. The full Senate is unlikely to go along with the unpopular plan.

The bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, says she doesn’t have the votes for Senate passage, and the bill would have no chance in a House controlled by Republicans. Feinstein’s bill has 31 Senate sponsors, all Democrats. Most Republicans fiercely oppose the repeal.

Senator Charles Grassley says “Traditional marriage between a man and a woman has been the foundation of our society for 6,000 years and attempts to dismantle this law are likely to be met with a great deal of resistance.”