[pg1598]

"relatively minor state matter when it refuses to legislate when it refuses to legislate on more pressing state/federal issues (gay marriage, legalising cannabis, etc)."

I'm not sure if you're being serious or just completely ignorant about how bills are passed into law. Clearly, a Republican controlled House will not vote in favor of gay marriage or legalizing cannabis. Heck, almost every Democratic state hasn't even legalized cannabis and there are still a good number of Democratic states that haven't recognized gay marriage. Those won't pass the federal level any time soon.

"Minor" issues, by the way, are passed into law all the time because both houses can agree on the bill. Take the JOBS Act or the Pay Our Military Act for instance.