MOOSIC---It was an announcement that surprised many. The state attorney general and Lackawanna County native Kathleen Kane will not defend the state's law that essentially bans gay marriage. Monday, the Governor spoke out for the first time about that announcement.
"I cannot ethically defend the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's version of DOMA, where I believe it to be wholly unconstitutional," she said at a press conference in Philadelphia last week.
The attorney general's job is to defend state laws, but Kane said she is handing the court battle over to the governor's attorneys.
Acording to state statute, she is allowed to do that if it is more efficient or in the state's best interest.
In this case, Kane and the governor, Tom Corbett are named as defendants in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban on gay marriage.
Governor Corbett finally spoke out about Kane's decision, while in Monroe County Monday for a press event.
We have a difference of opinion as to the role of the attorney general in something like this and we are taking a look at what we need to do on this and we'll let you in the next day or two what we're going to do on this issue. "."
Since making the announcement, a spokesperson for Kane's office said there have been many emails and phone calls, most in favor of her position.
That spokesman also said she will soon make a decision about the lawsuit.
She could ask to be removed as a defendant.