Hill Watching, June 6, 2008 - Electoral College & Constitutional Marriage Ban

Just the Senate was in session on Friday, the House was out of session.

In Senate, here is a bill I think is great, though certainly controversial, to do away with the electoral college system. I have yet to hear a solid argument for the Electoral College in modern American politics:

By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
S.J. Res. 39. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to abolish the electoral college and to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [S5366]

Since the House was not in session, here is a bill introduced in the House at the end of May. Surely, many folks will agree strongly with the bill, but I am against any sort of discrimination being added as a law to the Constitution. I have a hard time understanding why anyone would care of 2 men or 2 women get married:

By Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. PITTS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. AKIN, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. GOODE, Ms. FOXX, Mr. LINDER, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. HAYES, Mr. KING of Iowa, and Ms. FALLIN):
H.J. Res. 89. A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Source: GPO [bill text]