House Republicans signed authorized an increase the maximum amount Paul Clement and his colleagues at Bancroft can be paid to defend the Defense of Marriage Act from $1.5 million to $2 million – and Democrats were in the dark about the move for three months.

This week Democrats learned on the measure, which was signed off three months ago by House Administration Chairman Dan Lungren, R-Calif., this week, Roll Call reports. This is the third time GOP lawmakers have lifted the cap on the tax payer-funded attorney fees that can be paid in their defense of the law, which denies to same-sex married couples benefits available to other married couples.

The quietly-authorized increase angered Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who in a statement called the move “unconscionable” and “irresponsible.”

The U.S. Supreme Court granted cert in the 2^nd Circuit DOMA challenge last week, and is expected to hear the case in March.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 14th, 2012 at 9:06 am and is filed under Department of Justice, Gay marriage, Supreme Court. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.