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Romney's record in Massachusetts attacked by Democrats - US politics live Romney's record in Massachusetts attacked by Democrats - US politics live
(40 minutes later)
10.44am: The full decision from the First US Court of Appeals, ruling the 1996 Defence of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, is now online.
The next stop will almost certainly be the Supreme Court, as the appellate court notes in its decision today – and places a stay on its ruling until then:
Anticipating that certiorari will be sought and that Supreme Court review of Doma is highly likely, the mandate is stayed, maintaining the district court's stay of its injunctive judgment, pending further order of this court.
Here's one highlight from the decision:
To conclude, many Americans believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and most Americans live in states where that is the law today. One virtue of federalism is that it permits this diversity of governance based on local choice, but this applies as well to the states that have chosen to legalize same-sex marriage. Under current Supreme Court authority, Congress' denial of federal benefits to same-sex couples lawfully married in Massachusetts has not been adequately supported by any permissible federal interest.
10.34am: The Associated Press files a quick write-through on the decision to rule Doma unconstitutional from Boston this morning:
An appeals court ruled Thursday that a law that denies a host of federal benefits to gay married couples is unconstitutional.
The First US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston said the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, discriminates against gay couples.
The appeals court agreed with a lower court judge who ruled in 2010 that the law is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define marriage and denies married gay couples federal benefits given to heterosexual married couples, including the ability to file joint tax returns.
During arguments before the court last month, a lawyer for gay married couples said the law amounts to "across-the-board disrespect." The couples argued that the power to define and regulate marriage had been left to the states for more than 200 years before Congress passed DOMA.
An attorney defending the law argued that Congress had a rational basis for passing it in 1996, when opponents worried that states would be forced to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere. The group said Congress wanted to preserve a traditional and uniform definition of marriage and has the power to define terms used to federal statutes to distribute federal benefits.
10.25am: To explain why the first circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Defence of Marriage Act is significant – given the multiple federal court cases on gay marriage working their way through the legal system right now – it is because this is the first decision from the federal appellate level.
There are three other cases on the constitutionality of gay marriage awaiting decisions from federal appeals court – all of them being decided by the ninth circuit, which includes the challenge to California's Proposition 8 constitutional amendment and the Doma challenge upheld by a federal judge in California last week.
10.18am: Some actual news out of Boston, rather than presidential campaign jostling: the First US Circuit Court of Appeals has just ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (Doma) – which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman – discriminates against gay couples.
This is a big deal and sets up another Supreme Court showdown over gay marriage.
Doma was passed in 1996 during the Clinton administration. Massachusetts, though, has allowed gay marriage since 2004. In 2010, a federal judge in Massachusetts declared Doma unconstitutional, on the grounds that the law interferes with the right of a state to define marriage.
10.06am: There are scenes of some amusement on the steps outside the Massachusetts state house, as Romney campaigners and supporters try to squat on the site of the Obama campaign's press conference scheduled to start shortly.10.06am: There are scenes of some amusement on the steps outside the Massachusetts state house, as Romney campaigners and supporters try to squat on the site of the Obama campaign's press conference scheduled to start shortly.
9.30am: Mitt Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts gets the full glare of the presidential campaign today, as the Obama team holds a high-profile press conference in the Bay State this morning.9.30am: Mitt Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts gets the full glare of the presidential campaign today, as the Obama team holds a high-profile press conference in the Bay State this morning.
David Axelrod will hold the press conference on the steps on the Massachusetts capital at 10.30am ET – with the Romney campaign holding its own pre-butal press conference at the same venue half an hour earlier.David Axelrod will hold the press conference on the steps on the Massachusetts capital at 10.30am ET – with the Romney campaign holding its own pre-butal press conference at the same venue half an hour earlier.
To prepare for the dueling press briefings, here's a video released last night by the Obama campaign, attacking Romney's claims to be a job creator and tax cutter, from his time in Massachusetts.To prepare for the dueling press briefings, here's a video released last night by the Obama campaign, attacking Romney's claims to be a job creator and tax cutter, from his time in Massachusetts.
Here is a summary of some of the latest developments from Ryan Devereaux:Here is a summary of some of the latest developments from Ryan Devereaux:
• The Obama campaign has launched a new attack against Mitt Romney, targeting the GOP candidate's record as governor of Massachusetts. Obama's senior strategist, David Axelrod, issued a detailed memo claiming that during his tenure in Massachusetts: "Romney campaigned for governor on the promises of more jobs, decreased debt and smaller government. When he left office, however, state debt had increased, the size of government had grown, and over his four years, Massachusetts's record of job creation was among the worst in the nation." This morning the president's team will hold a press conference to promote their claim that Romney failed as a governor. The attack is accompanied by a new video from the Obama team entitled Broken Promises, which features Massachusetts politicians complaining about Romney's time as governor.• The Obama campaign has launched a new attack against Mitt Romney, targeting the GOP candidate's record as governor of Massachusetts. Obama's senior strategist, David Axelrod, issued a detailed memo claiming that during his tenure in Massachusetts: "Romney campaigned for governor on the promises of more jobs, decreased debt and smaller government. When he left office, however, state debt had increased, the size of government had grown, and over his four years, Massachusetts's record of job creation was among the worst in the nation." This morning the president's team will hold a press conference to promote their claim that Romney failed as a governor. The attack is accompanied by a new video from the Obama team entitled Broken Promises, which features Massachusetts politicians complaining about Romney's time as governor.
• Former president George Bush will visit the White House today for the ceremonial unveiling of his official presidential portrait. President Obama has repeatedly reminded voters of the problems he inherited following Bush as means to bolster his re-election efforts. White House spokesman Jay Carney, however, says the there will be no politics coming from Obama's side today and even suggested the two men may be able to bond over serving as president.• Former president George Bush will visit the White House today for the ceremonial unveiling of his official presidential portrait. President Obama has repeatedly reminded voters of the problems he inherited following Bush as means to bolster his re-election efforts. White House spokesman Jay Carney, however, says the there will be no politics coming from Obama's side today and even suggested the two men may be able to bond over serving as president.
• Bush's former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice endorsed Mitt Romney's bid for president last night at a fundraising event in California. Many have suggested Rice would make an excellent running mate for Romney. As an African American and a woman, she could help the former governor appeal to two demographics he's struggled to connect with. As a key member of Bush's foreign policy team, some believe Rice would be an asset.• Bush's former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice endorsed Mitt Romney's bid for president last night at a fundraising event in California. Many have suggested Rice would make an excellent running mate for Romney. As an African American and a woman, she could help the former governor appeal to two demographics he's struggled to connect with. As a key member of Bush's foreign policy team, some believe Rice would be an asset.