Senators negotiating a new, bipartisan version of a bill protecting same-sex marriage say they have finished their work, potentially clearing the way for a pivotal test vote next week.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters the group of five senators hashing out changes designed to clarify religious freedom safeguards finished up on Wednesday. She and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) expect the text of the legislation to be released on Thursday.
That would allow Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to set up a vote as early as Monday on a modified version of the measure that passed the House in July. Schumer has allowed Baldwin, Collins and Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) weeks to try and finesse a bill that can get the necessary 60 votes, including 10 Republicans.
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