Via the Washington Blade, President Bush has issued a veto threat of the D.C. appropriations bill because it lifts bans allowing federal funding to be spent to enable residents to register as domestic partners and qualify for benefits like married couples, and lifts the ban on funding for needle distribution programs to drug users.

“Under federal law, legal marriage is the union between a man and a woman,” the memo says. “Federal tax dollars are not used to extend employment benefits to domestic partners of federal employees and D.C. should not enjoy an exception to this rule.”

Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.) was expected to offer an amendment reinstating the stipulation before the measure saw a floor vote late this week.

Democrats noted the amendment would amount to little more than a symbolic gesture since the District uses its own money to register domestic partnerships.

The House is expected to vote on the bill tonight. You can read the administration’s entire Statement of Policy on H.R. 2829, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act.

Photo of the White House by andertho