Politico confirms pending introduction of DOMA Repeal Bill

Reported by Glenn Thursh:

House progressives are preparing a legislative assault on the 13-year-old Defense of Marriage Act, even with the White House sending mixed signals on the issue.

I'm told that liberals, led by Jerry Nadler, who represents Manhattan's West side and chairs the Judiciary Committee's Constitution subcommittee, are working on a repeal bill that could be at the "Dear Colleague" stage within weeks. It's likely to garner dozens of co-sponsors.

But it's not clear if the move, which comes at a time when leadership's plate in cracking under the weight of other blockbuster issues, has the backing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has said she supports rolling back the controversial law.

History has overtaken the 1996 law, which prevents federal recognition of gay unions and bars Social Security survivor payments and other government benefits. A half-dozen states have legalized same-sex marriage and advocates have mounted a series of [thus-far unsuccessful] legal challenges to DOMA.

Obama called for repeal during the campaign -- but his gay and lesbian backers were bitterly disappointed after DOJ lawyers filed papers defending the statute earlier this year. In an attempt to calm the waters, the White House issued a memo extending some benefits to federal employees with same-sex partners.

If nothing else, DOMA repeal bill will put Obama on the spot.

Apparently Politico writers pride themselves as Beltway insiders by using a lot of congressional jargons. If you're like me and do not know what "Dear Colleague" Stage means, here's a lengthy explanation. Basically it refers to the stage prior to th formal introduction where members of Congress persuade others to either support or oppose the bill.

This piece confirms what other LGBT press have been reporting, that Rep. Nadler will be introducing a DOMA Repeal bill after the August recess. If the Politico piece is right we could see the bill sometime in October.

With Congress dragging its feet on health care reform, it's unlikely this bill will be debated on this year-Nadler himself said so. Nevertheless, I agree with Politico that this bill will at least put President Obama on the spot. If he continues to be wishy washy about it, or publicly announcing his support but privately doing nothing to push Congress to pass the bill, he'd have a hard time explaining himself.

It'd be nice if the bill could be introduced in late September or early October to coincide with the National Equality March.