New Move to Strip Federal Courts of Marriage Cases

As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on whether states have the right to define marriage as they see fit and whether to recognize same-sex marriage performed in other states, one congressman is looking to take the issue away from the courts altogether.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is sponsoring the “Restrain Judges on Marriage Act of 2015.”

“If my bill becomes law, then the states will make the decision from that point forward on marriage,” King said. “Any enforcement funds would also be blocked. In the end, states would decide what marriage is. There are only two questions: What is marriage, and who’s going to decide?”

He argued, “Not nine judges, or more likely five of nine judges, but the people need to make a decision on marriage.”

How would the bill accomplish this, given that many question whether the legislative branch can dictate what the judicial branch can and cannot review? King believes the power is clear.

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