A Tennessee House subcommittee on
Wednesday defeated a bill which sought to block the U.S. Supreme
Court's June finding that gay couples have a constitutional right to
marry.
Obergefell v. Hodges struck down
as unconstitutional state bans and laws that exclude gay and lesbian
couples from marriage.
Republican Rep. Mark Pody's proposal
was defeated on a voice vote, the AP
reported.
“I equate nullification with
anarchy,” said Republican Rep. Mike Carter of Chattanooga.
The state warned that passage of the
bill could cost Tennessee an estimated $8.5 billion in lost federal
Medicaid and welfare money.
At a rally in support of the bill held
Tuesday, Pody reportedly dismissed the estimated loss of federal
funds.
“We're only upholding what we've
already voted on,” Pody said, a reference to the state's 2006
voter-approved constitutional amendment limiting marriage to
heterosexual couples.