$2.3 Million Later…

After their failed attempt to defending discriminatory DOMA in the name of "traditional values," House Republicans today pulled their name from a lawsuit aimed at stopping marriage equality.

"The Supreme Court recently resolved the issue of DOMA Section 3's constitutionality.... The Windsor decision necessarily resolves the issue of DOMA Section 3's constitutionality in this case.... The House has determined, in light of the Supreme Court's opinion in Windsor, that it no longer will defend that statute. Accordingly, the House now seeks leave to withdraw as a party defendant."

In the process of losing, House Speaker John Boehner and his fellow right wingers in the House's Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group voted (twice!) to spend a total $2.3 million of taxpayer money defending a ban that never should have existed in the first place.

But with the new federal recognition of same-sex couples, binational duos can stay here. If the average cost of deporting someone is $12,500, which is the government's estimate, then the $2.3 million the GOP wasted should theoretically be made up after 184 binational same-sex couples tie the knot, which may have already happened and the idea of which no doubt drives conservatives bonkers. Priceless.