House Republicans issued a contract today to pay former Solicitor General Paul Clement $520 an hour, up to $500,000 to defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Sacramento Rep. Dan Lungren, chair of the House Administration Committee and a big supporter of the idea, signed the contract.

Republicans claim they will take the money out of the Justice Department’s budget, as if that will hold taxpayers harmless. But a cost is a cost and taxpayers will pay it either way. Any funds removed from DOJ are funds removed from other work.

Drew Hammill, spokesman for House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said, “The hypocrisy of this legal boondoggle is mind-blowing.”

But it’s great bait for social conservatives whose support the GOP needs to shore up.