John Boehner: DOMA Likely To Be Defended By House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives will likely issue its own defense of a federal law abandoned by the White House that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, House Speaker John Boehner said on Monday.

President Barack Obama decided his administration would no longer defend the 15-year-old Defense of Marriage Act in U.S. court, dropping its challenge to a federal judge's ruling in Boston that the statute was unconstitutional.

The decision last week angered Republicans in Congress who oppose same-sex marriage and opened Obama to charges that he was using the case to cater to gay rights activists and their supporters, who praised the reversal.

"I'd be very surprised if the House didn't decide that they were going to defend the law," Boehner said in an interview posted on the website of the Christian Broadcasting Network, a U.S. cable TV channel.

While the Obama administration dropped its appeal of the Boston ruling, Boehner indicated that House Republicans could now decide to intervene in the case.

He said the House could appoint a counsel to represent the congressional chamber in court, an idea proposed by former Senator Rick Santorum, an opponent of gay rights who is considering run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Attorney General Eric Holder said last week that Justice was ready to work closely with the courts to ensure that Congress had an opportunity to join in the litigation.

Republicans are also considering new legislation and other moves.

"If the president won't lead, if the president won't defend DOMA, then you'll see the House of Representatives defend our actions in passing a bill that frankly passed overwhelmingly," said Boehner.

"It strikes me as something that's just as raw politics as anything I've seen, knowing that a lot of people who believe in DOMA are probably not likely to vote for him and pandering to the other side on this issue," Boehner said.

(Reporting by David Morgan and Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[mea25]

12:16 PM on 03/01/2011

And how much is this going to cost taxpayers? Boehnor: where are the jobs you promised to create for Americans if elected? Why are you and McConnell, Bachman, Cantor & Co. spending time on social and cultural issues while a majority of basic,decent hardworking Americans are struggling to pay their bills?

[Jack Cox]

10:48 AM on 03/01/2011

Just shows the priorities of the Republican Party, Gays are a danger to America in their mind but unemployment isn't.

[Disciple1]

10:32 AM on 03/01/2011

"..you'll see the House of Representatives defend our actions in passing a bill that frankly passed overwhelmingly," said Boehner. "

More politics and empty bombast from an effete House leader who will probably be drawn to 'tears' when he remembers that simply passing a bill in his chamber doesn't automatically equate to the legislation becoming LAW. Oh, yeah...it has to pass the democrat-majority SENATE and/or get SIGNED BY A DEMOCRAT POTUS also!! Duh...

[Bob Kellerman]

02:30 PM on 03/01/2011

Let us mention that when this crappy bill passed, it fit the public opinion of 1996.

People have moved on

[bwdoherty]

10:25 AM on 03/01/2011

JOBS???

[Bob Wood]

09:50 AM on 03/01/2011

DOMA...Defense of Marriage Act...defending marriage against what ? There is...was...and ain't gonna be any threat to marriage. My wife and I have been happily married for over 30 years and whoever my neighbor marries will not threaten my marriage. This is an emotional issue without an ounce of rationality. Any marriage that can be threatened because any two other people marry...was threatened to begin with..a weak. When two people love one another enough to wish to join their lives together...they should be free to do so. There's no rational reason to deny them. Do the right thing...scrap DOMA...(sigh)

[gwinegarden]

10:15 AM on 03/01/2011

The divorce rate, in the US, is about 50%. Seems to me that heterosexuals have been doing a pretty good job of messing up marriage fo a very long time..

[rustysc]

09:44 AM on 03/01/2011

Gee, what a surprise. If Obama is for it, you can bet that Boehner and the Regressives will be against it. They will also cry and whine about everything, as they always do.
So, what else is new.
BTW, Where are the Jobs?

[oski the bear]

09:17 AM on 03/01/2011

Why???

I keep striving to agree to disagree with Republicans. To think of us as folks who simply don't agree on the best way to help America. They think healthcare reform is a big step in the wrong direction, I think it's a very small step in the right direction. They think lower taxation and fewer federal jobs will help the private economy, I think higher taxes on those who have benefited most and federally funded education and healthcare, along with federal employees, will help the economy and nation.

I can honestly respect folks who disagree with me on the economic issues, because I can see them as wanting the best thing for Americans, even if I think they're wrong.

But why do they have to outright oppose equal rights for some Americans. Why is it so important to them to say that you and you and you but not you can get married to your soulmate? Why is it so important to them to say we want you and you and you but not you to sacrifice and serve and perhaps die for your country?

I would feel a LOT better towards my Republican "friends" if they simply took the basic position that America is a land of opportunity for everyone.

[Bob Kellerman]

02:44 PM on 03/01/2011

From another Cal grad--

The OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TO THEIR CAMPAIGN is all that counts, a pity!

[dmsdzinr]

07:51 AM on 03/01/2011

Hey John (and Mitch), We pretty much already know what you GOP folks will be standing for. We just listen to what the President supports, what his ideas are and then take the 180 degree opposite. You are so incredibly predictable. It is OLD, it is TIRED and it is PATHETIC!
Where are YOUR Ideas? WHERE ARE THE JOBS????? Oh that's right , YOU are going to CUT more jobs. UNBELIEVABLE!

[Eileenla]

04:33 AM on 03/01/2011

Wonder how many jobs this will create?

[Stealthboxer]

03:09 AM on 03/01/2011

Pumor-well said!!!

[Nopinky]

12:57 AM on 03/01/2011

Sooooo .... whose money is going to pay for that defense by the Great Opposition Party? Taxpayer funds? Oh, I'm sorry - did we enter a surplus while I was asleep?
Oh and before they launch into this great defense - I presume they'll be citing the Constitutional passage that authorizes it? Isn't that the new requirement?

[EducatedWoman]

12:36 AM on 03/01/2011

Boehner is mimicking the Prop 8 proponents in California: "because we want it, it must be right, and anyone who disagrees with us is thwarting the will of the people." That is the political position. Obama's principled position is to let the courts decide whether the discriminatory law serves a valid governmental interest. So far, they are saying it does not.

[Carolyn LeBeauf]

11:48 PM on 02/28/2011

Mr. Boehner where are those jobs you were talking about? HELL NO, WE CAN'T WAIT.

[DRaymond]

12:56 AM on 03/01/2011

Well, they are going to hire some lawyers to fight this case...does that count?

[DocRockk]

01:24 AM on 03/01/2011

Yeah....GOVERNMENT Lawyers. Oh, the irony!

[nomobull]

11:44 PM on 02/28/2011

huh

[pumor]

10:31 PM on 02/28/2011

You'd think that Republicans would love gays and lesbians. In their unions, there are no abortions or unwanted children,in fact, they are adopting kids that other people didn't want. What's not to love, GOP??