GOP Leaders' Legal Team Will Appeal DOMA Unconstitutional Ruling

[SunsetDreams]

The legal team backing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on behalf of Republican leaders in Congress will appeal a federal judge's ruling which declared the sections of DOMA that define marriage as between a man and a woman unconstitutional.

The notice of appeal, first reported by Chris Geidner, was filed over the objections of Democratic leaders of the House. An appeal would send the case to the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/gop-leaders-legal-team-will-appeal-doma-ruling

Pelosi Spokesman Blasts Boehner's DOMA Appeal As 'Purely Partisan'

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill has issued a statement criticizing House Speaker John Boehner's decision to appeal a ruling which declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional:

The District Court in Northern District of California flatly rejected the arguments of Speaker Boehner and his taxpayer-funded lawyers that insulted millions of Americans and their families. The court made it clear that there is no legitimate interest in denying a class of couples the rights and responsibilities guaranteed to married couples under state law.

Over the past year, the initial $500,000 in outside legal fees Speaker Boehner plans to spend has tripled to $1.5 million without any vote of the [Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group]. That is a tremendous amount of taxpayer money expended, on a purely partisan basis, to defend discrimination. With progress on marriage equality coming from all corners of our country, Speaker Boehner would have been better served and saved taxpayers' money if he had more carefully reviewed the district court's ruling and had declined to file a notice of appeal.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/pelosi-spokesman-blasts-boehners-doma-appeal-as-purely

The stupid, it burns...