Boehner Triples Outlay For Defending DOMA

Jim Burroway

October 5th, 2011

Despite an era of massive cost cutting in Congress, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has tripled the original $500,000  cost cap for the legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act to $1.5 million:

According to recently approved contract modification dated Sept. 30, House General Counsel Kerry Kircher has agreed to pay Bancroft LLC private attorney Paul Clement a sum not to exceed $750,000 to defend DOMA, but this cap may be raised to $1.5 million under written notice.

“It is further understood and agreed that, effective October 1, 2011, the aforementioned $750,000.00 cap may be raised from time to time up to, but not exceeding, $1.5 million, upon written notice of the General Counsel to the Contractor specifying that the General Counsel is legally liable under this Agreement for a specific amount,” the contract modification states.

Democrats on the Committee of Administration have blasted the increase, and charged that the contracting process lacked “any semblance of transparency.”

Hunter

October 5th, 2011

Considering what Clement has presented so far as “arguments,” he’s way overpaid.

Although considering how badly Boehner and Clement are likely to lose if they maintain the standard they’ve set so far in this proceeding, it might be worth it.

Markanthony

October 5th, 2011

New to this blog, but I find it addicting and a little depressing.

I found the tone of this post to be alittle out of touch. Major federal lawsuits are very $$, there is no way around that. From my limited experience, a $1.5 million budget would be reasonable.

The work on this would have come from the in-house firm at Justice on the general Dept. budget, but b/c Obama punted to Congress in a semi-legal way the money has to come from somewhere. If this is the only way for DOMA to go down, it should get a full hearing before the court without any short-changing.

For the Dem side to complain is little sour-grapes as they could have just zapped DOMA when they had the chance.

gar

October 5th, 2011

$1.5 mil is a pittance, to be sure, compared to the size of the deficit. However, one wonders if the Speaker concerned himself with offsetting the expenditure by making cuts in other parts of the budget.

Erica

October 5th, 2011

On the same day that the Conservative Prime Minister of the UK threw the weight of his government behind marriage equality as a Conservative value reflecting commitment that helps bind society together. What’s so hard about that for American conservatives to grasp?

San Diego Rob

October 5th, 2011

I feel good for being worth $1.5 million dollars…

KZ

October 5th, 2011

At first I was shocked. Then I remembered Boehner is a high-ranking Republican whose conservative Christian base would gladly spend millions upon millions of dollars defending junk science, distorted science, and ‘Cameronesque’ science all in the name of ‘Christian love.’

Hunter

October 6th, 2011

Markanthony:

Keep in mind that Congress was not required to defend DOMA in court, any more than DoJ is. This is pure politics on Boehner’s part. Considering the lame “arguments” Clement has come up with, and the sleazy tactics he’s tried, I can’t believe they expect anyone to take this seriously.

As for the Democrats “zapping” DOMA when they had the chance, when was that? In spite of the numbers, they haven’t had real majorities in Congress — not with the Blue Dogs voting with the Republicans half the time.

Timothy Kincaid

October 6th, 2011

It might be worth noting that since he took the assignment, the DOJ has gone from “neutral” to “opposed” on DOMA. While I’m not sure it justifies a tripling of the budget, it could explain the increase to 750,000.

I just continue to remain shocked that outside of wachadoodle circles, this issue has gotten absolutely no interest whatsoever.

Timothy Kincaid

October 6th, 2011

Hunter,

Congress is not required to defend DOMA. They aren’t even required to defend their constitutional powers.

But honestly, I think that for the future of the balance of powers, it is healthy for this law to be defended (and may it lose badly).

Boehner’s rhetoric on this decision is interesting. He’s talked about the House’s right to its role in creating legislation and how the President cannot on his own refuse to administer the laws he doesn’t like. He’s said almost nothing about gay marriage. From that perspective (and only that one) I find this decision a reasonable one.

(Alternately, he could have followed the lead of the Senate and found that the will of the House was not to keep the law and therefor there was no challenge to the House’s power).

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.