U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) hasn’t had a change of heart toward the Defense of Marriage Act, and a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing called by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) on the subject is a prerogative of leadership.
Leahy announced Thursday that he would, in the coming weeks, preside over a congressional hearing on proposals to repeal DOMA. Although a Republican-led U.S. House subcommittee held hearings on continued government defense of the law, which defines marriage as being between only one man and one woman, the Senate hearing will mark the first time Congress has heard testimony on repeal options.
Grassley is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and, as such, will have an opportunity, alongside Leahy, to solicit pertinent and expert testimony on the subject. Beth Pellett Levine, Grassley’s spokeswoman, said that since no firm date has yet been scheduled for the hearing, “it’s premature to discuss potential witnesses.”
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Complete article at Iowa Independent : http://bit.ly/qu6l38
