Politics | John Boehner Boehner: We'll Defend the Defense of Marriage Act House GOP to hire lawyer to pick up slack from Obama By Nick McMaster Posted Mar 4, 2011 4:59 PM CST Copied House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right followed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. arrive for a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) If Barack Obama won't fight for the Defense of Marriage Act, Congressional Republicans will do it for him, John Boehner announced today. House leaders will appoint a lawyer to argue for the 1996 law, which prevents the federal government from recognizing gay marriages, the LA Times reports. "It is regrettable that the Obama administration has opened this divisive issue," Boehner said. "The constitutionality of this law should be determined by the courts — not by the president unilaterally." Read These Next President warns Exxon over its wary response to Venezuela. Pizza chains face slowing sales and fierce fast-food competition. Golden Globes ends with an upset. Behind Lake Lanier's supposed curse, a darkly racist history. Report an error