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Heard on the Hill: Another Congressional Officiant

This day in the annals of Congressionally officiated weddings has Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack (Calif.) considering the role of officiant at stepson Chaz Bono’s wedding.

In California, a Member of Congress (as well as a state legislator, clergy, judge or marriage commissioner, but not a ship captain) can marry a couple.

And Bono Mack says she has officiated a few weddings, so it would make sense that the Congresswoman would perform the ceremony for her stepson since the two are famously close.

Bono Mack told a Palm Desert newspaper that she is “deeply honored and touched” by Chaz’s request that she officiate his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Elia.

“I have always cherished Chaz and have a lot of love, admiration and respect for him,” she told the paper. “I will be happy to have a family discussion about it.”

Chaz, born Chastity Bono to singer/actress Cher and the late Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Calif.), had surgery in 2009 to become a man.

Are any conservative Republican’s making a fuss about Bono Mack’s role in Chaz’s wedding? Her office says not.

“It’s called unconditional love,” Bono Mack spokesman Ken Johnson tells HOH.

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