U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.; Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Jared Polis, D-Colo.; David Cicilline, D-R.I.; and John Conyers, D-Mich.—the lead sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)—sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner renewing their request for a House briefing on the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group’s (BLAG) defense of DOMA, according to a press release.
BLAG has, reportedly at the direction of Boehner, retained counsel at taxpayer expense and begun its defense of DOMA in federal cases.
“It has been fifteen years since the Congress enacted DOMA, and the materials and arguments that BLAG is making on behalf of the House do not withstand the test of time or scrutiny,” wrote the members. “Members, and the American people, should be given the opportunity to understand why House Republican Leadership continues to advance arguments that have no valid basis and are demeaning to many of our fellow Americans.”