House leader "taken aback" by Obama's DOMA shift
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says he was "taken aback" by President Barack Obama ordering his administration to stop defending the constitutionality of a federal law that bans recognition of gay marriage.
The Virginia Republican said Thursday that he'd never been around when a president decided not to defend a law on the books. He says the U.S. Congress is mulling its options on the 15-year-old Defense of Marriage Act.
Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, said in a statement to CBS News earlier this week that Mr. Obama will have to explain to the American people why, despite a desire for lawmakers to focus on the still-struggling economy, "he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation." Crawford: Obama's "highly unusual" moveCantor made his comments in response to a question following a speech at Harvard University.
Cantor also says the House budget will include proposals on how to curb spending on programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Hundreds of students gathered outside to protest Cantor's visit, faulting Republicans for deep cuts to programs like global health initiatives and AmeriCorps.