Congress members grill D.C. officials on decision to block ballot initiative

By Tim Craig and Keith L. Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writers
November 19, 2009

The decision by the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to block a ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage reverberated on Capitol Hill and in the courts Wednesday as the battle continued over whether voters should have a say in the debate.

Bishop Harry Jackson, represented by lawyers from a conservative legal organization, filed suit in D.C. Superior Court to reverse the elections board's decision. The board ruled Tuesday that the proposed initiative on whether to define marriage as being between a man and a woman violates the city's Human Rights Act because it would be discriminatory toward gay men and lesbians.

In the 15-page filing, Jackson and his seven co-petitioners argue that the city's ordinances gives residents the same lawmaking power as the council, except for appropriations.

full story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/18/AR2009111803863.html

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