Republicans Defend DOMA on First Day of 113th Congress

House Republicans authorized the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) Wednesday night to continue paying outside counsel to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which discriminates against legally married same-sex couples. HuffPost obtained a copy of the draft language, which is expected to pass the full House on Thursday when the 113th Congress begins: "(1) CONTINUING AUTHORITY FOR THE BIPARTISAN LEGAL ADVISORY GROUP.(A) The House authorizes the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the 113th Congress – (i) to act as successor in interest to the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the 112th Congress with respect to civil actions in which it intervened in the 112th Congress to defend the constitutionality of section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (1 U.S.C. 7) or related provisions of titles 10, 31, and 38, United States Code, including in the case of Windsor v. United States, 833 F. Supp.2d 394 (S.D.N.Y. June 6, 2012), aff’d, 699 F.3d 169 (2d Cir. Oct. 18, 2012), cert. granted, No. 12–307 (Dec. 7, 2012), cert. pending No. 12–63 (July 16, 2012) and 12-ll (Dec.___2012); (ii) to take such steps as may be appropriate to ensure continuation of such civil actions; and (iii) to intervene in other cases that involve a challenge to the constitutionality of section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act or related provisions of titles 10, 31, and 38, United States Code. (B) Pursuant to clause 8 of rule II, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group continues to speak for, and articulate the institutional position of, the House in all litigation matters in which it appears, including in Windsor v. United States."