NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill seeking to block the Supreme Court’s Obergefell ruling in Tennessee was rejected by a subcommittee of the state House on Wednesday over concerns about nullifying federal rulings.

The Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 4-1 against the “Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act” sponsored by Rep. Mark Pody, who argued that the ruling should not supersede an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

The state Legislature estimated that the bill could cost the state $8.5 billion in federal Medicaid and welfare money if Tennessee were to continue to recognize marriage as a union between one man and one woman in contradiction to the Supreme Court ruling.

Republican Rep. Mike Carter of Chattanooga said that while he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s ruling, he considered the bill to turn back the ruling a step too far. In Carter’s words: “I equate nullification with anarchy.”

When interviewed about the rejection of his bill, Pody didn’t sound like he was ready to quit.

“I can’t bring this same bill again this year, because you can’t bring the same one twice, but I do want to make sure that we have a stand for the citizens of Tennessee, that this is what they wanted,” Pody said. “And I think we have overwhelming support that we want to stand up for marriage between a man and a woman.”

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