UPDATED: Federal Marriage Amendment is revived

Soon-to-retire Sen. Wayne Allard is keeping some mighty interesting legislative company these days. While the embattled Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is not. Spoke too soon. Here we go again, Mrs. Musgrave.


Allard, the prime Senate sponsor of the Federal Marriage Amendment since 2003 is a mere co-sponsor for the newly introduced version [SJ Res 43] — this time led by Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker.


Allard’s four previous attempts to create a federal law sanctioning marriage only if it’s between one man and one woman have all failed. Each time the bill has been co-sponsored by a motley crew of ultra-conservative lawmakers.


Many of the same cast of characters are backing Wicker’s new resolution with two notable inclusions who have been in the news for their less-than-matrimonial behavior.


Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) is infamously remembered not for legislative prowess but his toe-tapping proclivities in the men’s restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, which signaled a secret handshake of sorts to an undercover police officer who arrested Craig in a sex sting last August.


Just weeks before Craig’s potty arrest, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) was identified as a repeated client of a prostitution ring run by the infamous D.C. Madam and at one point was under subpoena to testify in the case.


The new marriage resolution was introduced on June 25 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which in recent weeks has grappled with real issues like a federal terrorism detainee policy, judicial nominations, consumer protection and voting rights.


Thus far, the Senate bill has not been scheduled for debate.  


A companion House resolution [H.J. Res 89] was introduced on May 22 by Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.).


Rep. Marilyn Musgrave earned her national conservative stripes as the previous sponsor of the same bill in 2003, 2004 and 2006. In a tough reelection bid in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District against Betsy Markey, Musgrave’s name is curiously absent from Broun’s co-sponsor list. is now listed as a co-sponsor as of a newly updated list on Thomas.gov

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