Pro-Gay Marriage House Dems Ask John Boehner For DOMA Briefing

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=9621&MediaType=1&Category=26

Democrats in the House spearheading the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Monday asked House Speaker John Boehner for an accounting on his courtroom defense of the gay marriage ban.

Boehner appointed and led a committee that instructed House counsel to defend the law in court after the Obama administration announced it would no longer do so. The president has said he believes the law that bans federal recognition of the marriages of gay and lesbian couples is unconstitutional.

In the letter – which is signed by Representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jared Polis of Colorado, David Cicilline of Rhode Island and John Conyers of Michigan – the lawmakers renew an April 4 request to be briefed on the House's planned defense of the law and take the opportunity to suggest their legal arguments are bogus.

“It is incumbent upon all lawyers … to undertake representation in an objective manner that is factual and legally supportable. Unfortunately, the outside counsel that you have retained have filed pleadings containing arguments and assertions that are troubling and appear to fall short of this standard.”