'Religious freedom' bill picks up momentum in House By Scott Wong - 07-12-15 06:00 AM EDT Pressure is mounting on House GOP leaders to call a vote this month on a religious-freedom bill banning the federal government from punishing churches, charities or private schools for actions in opposition to same-sex marriage. The legislation, dubbed the First Amendment Defense Act, is gaining steam. Nearly 50 Republicans — including Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.), Policy Chairman Luke Messer (Ind.) and Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (Texas) — signed on just last week, pushing the total number of GOP co-sponsors to 115. Given the Supreme Court ruling last month legalizing same-sex marriage, many Republicans say they hope to pass the bill before they head home and face constituents at August town halls. But there’s one possible hang-up: The bill’s author is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), a co-founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, which has caused fits for GOP leadership since its launch in January. Labrador, a Tea Party favorite, also is a one-time rival to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who just happens to control the floor schedule. In recent months, some conservative rebels have complained that leadership has retaliated against them by blocking votes on legislation they’ve written. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said his bill to name a courthouse in his district has been sidelined because of his frequent criticism of leadership. But co-sponsors of the Labrador bill said they hoped the bill would receive a vote based on its merits, not based on who introduced it. Conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. “I don’t think they would ever make a judgment on critically important policy based on personalities,” said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), one of three Freedom Caucus members who were booted from the whip team last month for defying leadership on a procedural vote on trade. “I think the bill should stand on its merits, and I believe the bill has its merits,” another co-sponsor, Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), said in an interview. So far, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), a Catholic who opposes gay marriage, hasn’t weighed in on the bill. And McCarthy’s given no indication he’ll schedule a vote in the remaining three weeks before the House leaves town for the long August recess. The bill has been referred to two committees, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, but neither panel has scheduled a markup. There’s even a question of whether Labrador’s bill can get the 218 votes needed for passage. Only one Democrat, Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, has co-sponsored the bill, which means Labrador will need to lean heavily on fellow Republicans, some of whom view him as politically toxic. But in an interview, Labrador said he spoke directly to top Boehner aides and McCarthy on Friday, and they assured him they were not trying to derail his bill. “They are not threatening me personally about my bill. They assured me legislation that is important will go to the floor, so I take them at their word,” Labrador told The Hill. “McCarthy assured me he’s not trying to get in the way of the bill.” The message from Boehner aides was simple: Build a broad coalition first, then we’ll talk about a possible vote. Labrador, however, believes the coalition is already in place. He has backing from influential Republicans from across the spectrum, from Heritage Action and from respected leadership allies. Among the co-sponsors: Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Science, Space and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.).

'Religious freedom' bill picks up momentum in House
By Scott Wong - 07-12-15 06:00 AM EDT

Pressure is mounting on House GOP leaders to call a vote this month on a religious-freedom bill banning the federal government from punishing churches, charities or private schools for actions in opposition to same-sex marriage.

The legislation, dubbed the First Amendment Defense Act, is gaining steam. Nearly 50 Republicans — including Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.), Policy Chairman Luke Messer (Ind.) and Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores (Texas) — signed on just last week, pushing the total number of GOP co-sponsors to 115.

Given the Supreme Court ruling last month legalizing same-sex marriage, many Republicans say they hope to pass the bill before they head home and face constituents at August town halls.

But there’s one possible hang-up: The bill’s author is Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), a co-founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, which has caused fits for GOP leadership since its launch in January. Labrador, a Tea Party favorite, also is a one-time rival to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who just happens to control the floor schedule.

In recent months, some conservative rebels have complained that leadership has retaliated against them by blocking votes on legislation they’ve written. Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said his bill to name a courthouse in his district has been sidelined because of his frequent criticism of leadership.

But co-sponsors of the Labrador bill said they hoped the bill would receive a vote based on its merits, not based on who introduced it. Conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

“I don’t think they would ever make a judgment on critically important policy based on personalities,” said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), one of three Freedom Caucus members who were booted from the whip team last month for defying leadership on a procedural vote on trade.

“I think the bill should stand on its merits, and I believe the bill has its merits,” another co-sponsor, Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), said in an interview.

So far, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), a Catholic who opposes gay marriage, hasn’t weighed in on the bill. And McCarthy’s given no indication he’ll schedule a vote in the remaining three weeks before the House leaves town for the long August recess.

The bill has been referred to two committees, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, but neither panel has scheduled a markup.

There’s even a question of whether Labrador’s bill can get the 218 votes needed for passage. Only one Democrat, Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, has co-sponsored the bill, which means Labrador will need to lean heavily on fellow Republicans, some of whom view him as politically toxic.

But in an interview, Labrador said he spoke directly to top Boehner aides and McCarthy on Friday, and they assured him they were not trying to derail his bill.

“They are not threatening me personally about my bill. They assured me legislation that is important will go to the floor, so I take them at their word,” Labrador told The Hill. “McCarthy assured me he’s not trying to get in the way of the bill.”

The message from Boehner aides was simple: Build a broad coalition first, then we’ll talk about a possible vote.

Labrador, however, believes the coalition is already in place. He has backing from influential Republicans from across the spectrum, from Heritage Action and from respected leadership allies. Among the co-sponsors: Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Science, Space and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.).