Gay marriage supporters are moving to repeal a law that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, but there’s little chance of a vote this year.Repeal legislation to be introduced Tuesday has at least 76 House sponsors. A spokesman for the lead sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, acknowledged that repealing the Defense of Marriage Act was not a priority for movement anytime soon.
The 1996 law bars federal recognition of gay unions, including the granting of Social Security survivor payments and other government benefits to couples. The law even bars same-sex couples from receiving the benefits in states that have legalized their marriage….
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., an influential, openly gay lawmaker, favors repeal but has not signed on as a co-sponsor of Nadler’s bill.
I used to joke about “Barney the dinosaur.” Now it’s not so funny. He really has been showing his age lately, including his defense of the incest DOMA brief. If Barney is smarter than all the rest of us, then what’s his plan?
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