81 Reps Condemn Obama's DOMA Stance

A House resolution with 81 Republican cosponsors, including Rep. Michele Bachmann, condemns President Barack Obama for his decision to stop defending section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court cases.

Obama in February directed Atty. Gen. Eric Holder and the Department of Justice to stop defending DOMA, which bans recognition of gay and lesbian couples by the federal government, even if they are married in other countries or partnered in states where same-sex marriages, domestic partnerships, or civil unions are legal. House speaker John Boehner and Republican leaders last week took the option to defend the law in court.

The resolution finds fault with the the Obama administration for ceasing to defend DOMA, despite a large majority in Congress approving it, but in contrast, the administration is defending other laws, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act after it "barely passed both chambers of Congress on party line votes."

The Congress members added that "the vast majority of Americans believe that marriage should continue to be what it always has been -- the legal and spiritual union between one man and one woman." The resolution goes on to condemn the Obama administration's decision and demand that the Justice Department continue defending the law.

The resolution is cosponsored by representatives including Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and Darrell Issa of California. The lead sponsor is Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri.