Congressman uses same-sex marriage to try to block health care bill

We should have known that eventually LGBT people would be used in this debate.  Tim Craig of The Washington Post is reporting that Washington DC's new same-sex marriage law has become entangled in health care reform.

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) has introduced an amendment that would suspend the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the issue could be put before voters.

So far, five GOP senators are supporting him: GOP Sens. Roger Wicker (Miss), Pat Roberts (Kansas), Orrin Hatch (Utah), James M. Inhofe (Ok), and John Cornyn (Texas), according to the DCist blog.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC's non-voting representative in the House of Representatives, has stated she will have to remain on "daily vigil" to guard against congressional intervention over the issue.

"No sooner had we finished celebrating our new marriage equality law than the Bennett amendment became the first of counter attacks I expect all session," Norton said according to The Post.  "But I abide no pessimism about turning them back. I will continue to work with our friends in the Senate, where the attacks are likely to come most frequently."