Utah Rep Tries to Block DC Marriage

U.S. representative Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, introduced a bill Wednesday that proposes blocking a new Washington, D.C., law granting marriage equality in the district, Salt Lake City's Deseret News reports.

But even Chaffetz admits that the bill has little chance of succeeding: "I wish it would come up for a vote, because I think traditional marriage would win. But with the Democrats controlling the House, the Senate, and the presidency, I can't imagine that this would make it through the process." The bill, therefore, is "more symbolic than it is realistic."

The D.C. city council and mayor passed the marriage equality ordinance last month. Like all D.C. laws, this ordinance now must go through a 30-day waiting period in Congress, during which Congress may vote to turn it down. Chaffetz is the ranking Republican on the subcommittee that oversees D.C. operations.