Tag Archives: Leahy

This past Thursday (November 10, 2011) the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the first legislative hurdle by voting in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca), marks the first successful attempt by any component of Congress toward overturning the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act signed into law by then President Bill Clinton. As expected the vote (10-8) ruled strictly along party lines including two Senators, Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill) who had previously voted for the original DOMA.  Senator Leahy, with a level of skill and venality well refined over his thirty-seven years in office, captured the moment’s success by stating:  Read more...