Task Force denounces increase in cap for House defense of DOMA

The Task Force denounces the outrageous move by U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to increase the cap on legal fees from $500,000 to $1.5 million for private lawyers to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. On Sept. 30, the contract was modified to increase this cap, wasting taxpayers money in this difficult economic time.

The contract modification states that “it is further understood and agreed that, effective October 1, 2011, the aforementioned $750,000.00 cap may be raised from time to time up to, but not exceeding, $1.5 million, upon written notice of the General Counsel to the Contractor specifying that the General Counsel is legally liable under this Agreement for a specific amount.”

Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey has repeatedly stated that “there is no sound defense of the indefensible DOMA, which singles out and selectively denies fundamental rights to legally married same-sex couples.”