Snooki Boehner's Defense of DOMA Could Cost Taxpayers $500K (or more, if they feel like it)

Snooki Boehner's "Weasel for Hire", Paul Clement

Via the Washington Blade:

The U.S. House has hired a private attorney to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court at a total sum that could reach $500,000 and at a blended rate of $520 an hour, according to a copy of the contract obtained by the Washington Blade and other media outlets.

The contract was entered by House general counsel Kerry Kircher, whom U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) charged with defending DOMA in court, and the law firm King & Spalding for the purposes of hiring Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under former President George W. Bush.

According to the contract, the House has agreed to pay King & Spalding a sum not to exceed $500,000 for all services rendered in defending DOMA, the 1996 law that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

“It is further agreed that payment for such contractual services may be paid on a partial basis from time to time and in such amounts as the General Counsel may approve,” the contract states.

It should be noted the $500,000 cap could be raised upon written agreement by both parties in the contract as well as the House Committee on Administration.

Additionally, Clement will be paid at a blended rate of $520 an hour for time expended in litigation of defense of DOMA in court and at 75 percent of this usual rate for all reasonable non-attorney time in connection with the litigation.

Read the full story here.

Related articles

• Paul Clement and King & Spalding Defend DOMA - at a Discount (abovethelaw.com)
• House GOP defends $500K salary for DOMA lawyer (thehill.com)
• CNN Poll: Majority Support Same-Sex Marriage; DOMA Defense to Cost American Taxpayers $500K, Possibly More (towleroad.com)
• Boehner: Obama Admin. Should Pay GOP To Defend Anti-Gay Marriage Law (huffingtonpost.com)
• DOMA-Defending Attorney Paul Clement's Firm is Proud of its Policies Against LGBT Discrimination (towleroad.com)

Boehner Asks for Blank Check to Defend DOMA

On Monday House Speaker John "Snooki" Boehner announced he has hired former Bush administration Solicitor General Paul Clement to assist in defending DOMA in several pending court challenges to the 1993 law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing legally performed same-sex marriages.

Boehner, the nation's highest ranking Orange American, also had the nerve to ask former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to join him in an effort to divert funds from the Justice Department to pay for the effort.

The Washington Blade reports:

In a letter dated April 18 to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Boehner calls for cutting funds from the Justice Department to provide money to the House general counsel to pay for congressional costs to defend in court DOMA, the 1996 anti-gay law that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

On the same day, Boehner’s office announced that Paul Clement, who served as U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, would assist the House general counsel in taking up defense of DOMA against litigation. Clemens is now a partner in the D.C.-based firm King & Spalding, where he manages the national appellate practice.

Boehner made the announcements on the deadline day for the House to decide whether or not to intervene in one case challenging DOMA, Windsor v. United States, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and is pending before the U.S. District Court of Southern District of New York. The House general counsel filed a notice of its intent to intervene on Monday.

In a letter to Pelosi, Snooki said, “I would welcome your joining me in support of redirecting those resources from the DOJ to the House that would otherwise have been necessary expenses on the Attorney General to defend this federal statute.”

The Blade reports that Pelosi slammed Boehner for not disclosing the estimated cost of defending the homophobic statute or involving House Democrats in his decision to hire Clement, who reportedly makes $5 million a year.

“Unfortunately, your letter did not respond to the central question in my March 11th letter: the cost to taxpayers of hiring outside legal counsel,” Pelosi writes. “Again, I am requesting that you disclose the cost of hiring outside counsel for the 12 cases where DOMA is being challenged.”

Pelosi also maintains that House defense of DOMA against litigation isn’t required and disputes an assertion from Boehner that administration’s decision amounts to the president unilaterally determining the constitutionality of the anti-gay law.

“As you know, only the courts can determine the constitutionality of a statute passed by the Congress,” Pelosi writes.

Finally, Pelosi takes issue with Boehner’s decision to hire Clement as an attorney in the case and says Democrats weren’t informed about the decision beforehand.

“According to reports, a contract engaging Paul D. Clement to serve as the outside counsel reportedly was forwarded to the Committee on House Administration, although not to the Democratic members or staff of the Committee,” Pelosi writes. “I would like to know when the contract with Mr. Clement was signed, and why a copy was not provided to Democrats on the Committee.”

While it's nice to finally see some testicular fortitude coming from the Democratic leadership on LGBT issues, where has it been for the last two years when it could have done us some good? 

Home

Related articles

• Pelosi to Boehner: You're keeping Dems in the dark on defending DOMA (thehill.com)
• Boehner: Make DOJ Pay DOMA Defense | FrumForum (frumforum.com)
• Speaker Boehner Avoids Answering How Much His $1000 An Hour Lawyer Will Cost As He Wants DOJ To Foot The Bill (lezgetreal.com)
• Pelosi to Boehner: How much will outside DOMA counsel cost taxpayers? (dailykos.com)

Maggie Gallagher to Testify before Snooki Boehner's House Marriage Hearing, Receives Anita Bryant Award From GetEqual

I've never seen cankles on someone's neck before.

Maggie "The Human Toad" Gallagher (pictured), chairperson of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) ~ the shill group created by the perverse partnership of the Catholic and Mormon churches ~ who brought us California's Prop 8 and a host of other anti-marriage equality state constitutional amendments, will be testifying today before a House hearing on defending marriage.

Even though all of NOM's bald-faced lies about the evils of same-sex marriage have been shot down by every legitimate researcher on the planet, House Republicans won't let that stop them from blocking DOMA repeal, which a majority of Americans now support.

House Speaker John "Snooki" Boehner defended the use of tax-payer money in another effort by the GOP to justify discrimination against LGBT Americans at a news conference Thursday:

“There are a lot of committees, a lot of hearings," Boehner said. "As I made it clear from the beginning of this year, the committee process is important to this institution, and I think addressing any question — serious question — in American society is legitimate.”

The Washington Blade reports:

Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, said in response to Boehner’s remarks that the upcoming hearing will “no doubt showcase the [Republican] majority’s obsession with ensuring continued discrimination against same-sex couples.”

“They’re welcome to think that’s a legitimate way to spend their time but the vast majority of Americans will be scratching their heads wondering why House Republicans have held a third hearing in as many weeks to demonize LGBT people,” Cole-Schwartz said.

Cole-Schwartz was counting two earlier hearings that House committees held to oversee implementation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as anti-gay hearings and the upcoming testimony on “defending marriage” as the third anti-gay hearing this year.

How's that job creation thing workin' for ya, Snooks? Read more at the Washington Blade.

UPDATE:

GetEqual activists greeted Cankle Neck in the hallway outside the Marriage Hearing this morning and presented her with the first annual Anita Bryant Award for Unbridled and Unparalleled Bigotry.

Via Pam's House Blend:

"In presenting this award to Ms. Gallagher, we are recognizing the bigotry that she has pioneered over the past few years - malice that has put her ahead of the pack in the world of professional bigots who draw a paycheck each day from the hatred they stir up among the 'radical right' wing of the American public," said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. "At a time when Americans overwhelmingly support marriage equality it takes a very special person like Ms. Gallagher to stand up and fight for discriminations and bigotry. It's gratifying to be able to draw attention to the unrelenting hatred that Ms. Gallagher and others at the National Organization for Marriage have been contributing to American life."

At the Congressional hearing, GetEQUAL was able to present Ms. Gallagher with an award certificate, which will be accompanied at a later date with a prize in honor of the award's namesake - a cream pie. Harkening back to an incident in 1977, the award is given in commemoration of the "pieing" of Anita Bryant - then the leader of Save Our Children. Video of the incident can be found athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS91gT3XT_A.

Home

Related articles

• NOM's Maggie Gallagher to Testify at Tomorrow's House Hearing on Defending DOMA (towleroad.com)
• House Panel to Hold Hearing on 'Defending Marriage' (towleroad.com)
• Maggie Gallagher Explains To New Hampshire Why Marriage Discrimination Is 'Not Discrimination' (queerty.com)

House Republicans Schedule Hearing to Slow DADT Repeal

Now that they have control of congress, House Republitards have scheduled a hearing to propose congressional oversight of DADT repeal. Despite that fact that both the House and Senate approved repeal, the wheels are in motion and over 70% of Americans support repeal, these douchbages are still trying to derail it.  The Washington Blade reports:

The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee, which will hold the hearing, is chaired by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who’s renowned for shouting “You Lie!” to President Obama during the 2010 State of the Union address. Wilson was a vocal opponent of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal last year and cast a “no” against ending the military’s gay ban.

The House Armed Services Committee didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to provide details about the hearing or explain its purpose.

Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokesperson, said during the hearing Stanley will “provide an update on the progress of training efforts and policy revisions supporting ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'] repeal implementation.”

The hearing apparently has the endorsement of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Asked via e-mail whether the speaker supports the hearing to oversee “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal implementation, Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesperson, replied, “That seems to be appropriate.”

Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), chided Republicans for scheduling this hearing after Congress completed action to repeal the anti-gay law last year. “This issue has been resolved in the Congress and in the minds of the American people,” Hammill said. “The American people want action on jobs not more ideologically driven social policy from right wing Republicans.”

11:30 a.m. 
UPDATE:


This just in from GetEqual:
.

CALL Email Fax then SHARE this.

YOUR INPUT IS VITAL

This Friday (April fool's day) Republican House is planning to hold a hearing on the implementation of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
The subcommittee holding the hearing is chaired by Representative Joe Wilson. You remember him...He yelled "YOU LIE" at the President during his State of the Union Address.

TELL THEM NOT TO SLOW REPEAL
THERE ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED!!
Boehner's Washington, D.C. Office

(202) 225-6205
(202) 225-0704 fax

Boehner's Contact Email form
http://www.speaker.gov/Contact/

Wilson's Contact info (Subcommittee Chairperson)
The Washington Office

Phone: (202) 225-2452
Fax: (202) 225-2455
OR
Congressional Switchboard
(202)224-3121 Ask for your representative's office.

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress.
Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.

Related articles

• Republican House To Hold Hearing On DADT Repeal (lezgetreal.com)
• Attorneys push for immediate repeal of DADT (sfgate.com)
• Military Chaplains Leaving Over DADT Repeal Skyrockets To Whopping 2 (queerty.com)
• Log Cabin Files Brief Demanding Immediate Repeal of 'DADT' (towleroad.com)

Snooki Boehner's House Panel Votes to Defend DOMA

Stop crying, dude. Your tan will run.

House Speaker John "Snooki" Boehner took some time out between spray tans to announce Wednesday that a House panel voted 3-2 along party lines to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in two pending court cases challenging the constitutionality of the 1993 law enacted by backstabbing, womanizer Bill Clinton.

The panel, made up of three Republicans and two Democrats is being called the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group or BLAG, which sounds like something my cat coughed up.

UrbanDictionary.com defines Blag as "to convince another person that all the stuff you just made up is in fact true and worthy." That sounds about right.

From the Washington Blade:

A U.S. House panel on Wednesday voted along party lines to direct general counsel to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court following President Obama’s announcement that his administration would no longer defend the statute against litigation.

In a statement, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which he convened last week after the president’s announcement, had come to the conclusion to direct the House General Counsel to defend DOMA after the Wednesday meeting.

“Today, after consultation with the Bipartisan Leadership Advisory Group, the House General Counsel has been directed to initiate a legal defense of this law,” Boehner said. “This action by the House will ensure that this law’s constitutionality is decided by the courts, rather than by the President unilaterally.”

The five-member Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group consists of the speaker, the majority leader, the majority whip, the minority leader, and minority whip.

Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesperson, said the panel voted 3-2 to direct the House General Counsel to take up defend of DOMA, but had no information on any discussion that took place beforehand.

Boehner as well as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) voted in favor of directing counsel to defend the statute, while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) voted against such action.

Related articles

• Boehner Announces House Will Defend DOMA in Court (towleroad.com)
• Boehner decides House will defend DOMA in court (dailykos.com)
• House GOP moves to defend DOMA (politico.com)

Rocker Henry Rollins: "Of course same-sex marriage is constitutional!"

In this month's issue of Vanity Fair, veteran rocker (and all around hot daddy) Henry Rollins takes on John "Snooki" Boehner on his decision to defend DOMA in court on behalf of the U.S. government.

When things threaten to become too constitutional, thankfully, there’s someone like John Boehner, owner of every third tear cried in America, to step in and attempt to push America back into the good old days of darkness. Rather than shoulder the awesome burden of creating some damned jobs in America, he goes for the easy cheap shot of going after gay Americans. Again.

Of course same sex marriage is constitutional! The right to be yourself, to pursue life, liberty, and property, is protected several ways over several amendments. John Boehner should know this. If only he read the Constitution as often as some of us do, he wouldn’t have bothered to lower himself to this time-wasting, pathetic attempt to invigorate his base of supporters.

Related articles

• Thank You Henry Rollins for being Body Guard for Gays (redbeardedoctopus.wordpress.com)
• Henry Rollins Blasts Boehner On DOMA Defense (towleroad.com)
• Henry Rollins Turns 50 (laughingsquid.com)

Boehner Says House Republicans Will Defend DOMA in Court

U.S. Attorney General Eric holder's announcement last week that the Obama administration considers part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be unconstitutional and will no longer defend it in court has put House Speaker John "Snooki" Boehner in an awkward position. He can defend a law that is likely to be overturned, just to pacify the far right, or he can choose not to and piss off an important part of the Republican base.

It's sort of the mirror image of what Obama has been doing to the LGBT community until recently.

So far this year, the nation's top-ranking tanning booth junkie has tried to steer clear of social issues and stay focused on the economy. Boehner's response to the DOJ's decision takes issue with the administration's choice not to defend DOMA, not same-sex marriage.

TPMmuckraker report:

Boehner has criticized the Obama administration's decision, but he's focused more on the legal decision not to defend laws than he has on the actual social issue at hand. He's indicated that the House might step in to defend the law and said he'll make a final decision by Friday.

One group that is pushing Boehner to defend the law is the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which has been fundraising off the Obama Administration's decision last week that part of the law was unconstitutional.

Like at least one of the groups that maintains DOMA is unconstitutional, NOM's Maggie Gallagher also anticipates congressional intervention, telling TPM that they "fully expect the House to intervene" and that they were encouraged by Boehner's comments (she declined to answer any additional questions except via e-mail).

A fundraising e-mail from NOM states that the Obama Administration and Massachusetts must agree by March 18 on a plan for how the pending DOMA litigation will proceed.

"That's right, when President Obama declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional last week, the Court ordered the administration to get together with the plaintiffs to develop a plan for the litigation - Eric Holder sitting down with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to plan the future of DOMA!" the e-mails say.

"If Congress doesn't step up quickly to defend DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act may soon be history - the victim of an administration that is deliberately undercutting the very laws it is duty-bound to defend." (That's not quite right -- there've been a number of instances when the Justice Department has decided not to defend a law passed by Congress.)

Related articles

• John Boehner: Congress Likely To Take Over Defense Of DOMA (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Watch: John Boehner Suggests House Will Defend Constitutionality of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) (towleroad.com)
• John Boehner: House Likely To Defend DOMA (huffingtonpost.com)
• Obama's move on DOMA thaws chill with gays (politico.com)
• Is Joe Solmonese Worried About John Boehner Defending DOMA? (queerty.com)