5 Reasons State Lawmakers Want DOMA Repealed

[William769]

The case against the Defense of Marriage Act is widening as more lawmakers step forward to condemn the law. The latest last week included governors and local lawmakers from states where marriage equality is recognized.

They sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of a vote on whether to repeal DOMA. The repeal advanced to the Senate on a party-line vote.

The argument against DOMA is still solidifying. For example, companies such as Google, Microsoft and Starbucks filed a brief in a the case challenging the constitutionality of DOMA and argued that the law is just another form of government regulation that puts a burden on business, leading to wasted resources and money.

The state lawmakers made a similar case, claiming government overreach as they trumpeted states rights. In the broad understanding of party values, it's the sort of case you'd expect to hear from Republicans, though the list was filled mostly with Democrats.

Here are the top five reasons they say DOMA should be repealed:

- DOMA disrespects states rights, they argue. Although the policy was born from a concern by conservative states that they might be forced to recognize same-sex marriages made in other states, these lawmakers say DOMA has actually trampled states rights. "By denying federal recognition for some of our states’ lawful marriages, DOMA does not just deny married same-sex couples these and other critical rights and benefits," they wrote. "It disrespects our states’ decisions to treat all of our citizens equally."

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/11/15/Five_Reasons_State_Lawmakers_Want_DOMA_Repealed/