Two Senate Republicans and 37 House Republicans have joined activists in Washington, D.C. in an effort to overturn the city council's recent decision to legalize gay marriage.
The 39 GOP Congress members filed a joint amicus brief with the D.C. superior court, related to a hearing on Wednesday regarding whether to allow residents to vote on the issue. The city's board of elections and ethics ruled last fall that there would be no option to bring gay marriage to a vote, making the city council's vote the deciding factor before the law was eligible for a 30-day congressional review.
However, gay marriage opponents are claiming that the board overstepped its jurisdiction.
"As members of the District's ultimate legislative body, amici are concerned about the extent of the District's delegated legislative authority, the preservation of Congress's constitutional authority, and the interpretation of home rule," the brief states.
Local Republicans asked their congressional colleagues to stay out of the fray, but the brief included signatures from Congress members like House minority whip Eric Cantor and Sen. James Inhofe.
"The Republican Party I am a member of is dedicated to allowing local rule and respecting the thoughts of individuals," local GOP activist Kristopher J. Baumann told TheWashington Post. "I find it ironic they would come out squarely against the wishes of the local party."
The signers were:
Senators James Inhofe (Okla.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.) with U.S. representatives. Robert Aderholt (Ala.), Todd Akin (Mo.), Michele Bachmann (Minn.), J. Gresham Barrett (S.C.), Roscoe Bartlett (Md.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), John Boehner (Ohio), John Boozman (Ark.), Eric Cantor (Va.), Jason Chaffetz (Utah), John Fleming (La.), J. Randy Forbes (Va.), Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Wally Herger (Calif.), Walter Jones (N.C.), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Steve King (Iowa), Jack Kingston (Ga.), John Kline (Minn.) Doug Lamborn (Colo.), Robert Latta (Ohio), Don Manzullo (Ill.), Michael McCaul (Texas), Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), Patrick McHenry (N.C.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), Jeff Miller (Fla.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Randy Neugebauer (Texas), Mike Pence (Ind.), Joe Pitts (Pa.), Mark Souder (Ind.), and Todd Tiahrt (Kan.).
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