Speaker of the House John Boehner has said he will take over defense of DOMA in federal court cases after the Obama administration has declared a portion of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) be unconstitutional, specifically the part declaring marriage is only between a man and a woman, at least on a federal level.
“The constitutionality of this law should be determined by the courts — not by the president unilaterally,” Boehner said in a statement. “This action by the House will ensure the matter is addressed in a manner consistent with our Constitution.”
Boehner has created a committee of both Republicans and Democrats to tackle the task, although some who were included, such as Nancy Pelosi, agrees with the administration.
Pelosi has lauded Obama’s decision to stop defending it as a “victory for civil rights, fairness and equality.” She added “This is nothing more than a distraction from our most pressing challenges.”
