After yesterday’s hearing over California’s Prop. 8, the Supreme Court has moved on to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The 1996 law denies federal benefits and tax breaks to legally married same-sex couples, and defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Justice Anthony Kennedy, a potential swing vote, voiced concern of whether the federal government has the inherent right to legally define marriage instead of leaving it to the states. Other liberal justices also questioned whether DOMA degrades same-sex marriages in the nine states that have legalized them; Ruth Bader Ginsburg compared the situation to milk — there’s “full marriage, and then this sort of skim milk marriage.”
Tonight at 10pm ET, we will continue to discuss the Supreme Court’s landmark hearings. Here’s a look at stories shaping tonight’s rundown:
- Supreme Court tackles Defense of Marriage Act
- Supreme Court indicates it may strike down marriage law
- 13 key moments in the Supreme Court argument over gay marriage
- DOMA as a states’ rights problem? Today’s oral argument in Plain English
- Reid faces dilemma over Dem defections after close budget vote
- Senate support for gun rights shown in budget vote
- On guns, has Washington waited too long?
- Can anyone beat the NRA?
- Boston College likely not winning Bill Gates’ condom challenge
Lynn Malka