Nevada Democrats outvote Republicans to move domestic partnership bill along

[Bluebear]

CARSON CITY — On a party-line vote, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday for a bill to give domestic partners, whether gay or straight, many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.

Republicans were outvoted by Democrats who control the committee as SB283 moved to the full Assembly. If approved there, it must return to the Senate, where it was backed previously, for a review of Assembly amendments. Gov. Jim Gibbons has threatened to veto the plan if it reaches his desk.

Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, the openly gay sponsor of SB283, says domestic partnerships have been upheld across the country, and that at least 80 of the nation's top 100 companies offer domestic partnership benefits.

Critics include Assemblyman Ty Cobb, R-Reno, who said domestic partners could just sign private contracts to accomplish many of the goals of SB283. He also argued the bill conflicts with the intent of Nevadans who voted in 2002 for a constitutional amendment supporting marriage between a man and a woman.

The measure provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/44826482.html

[enlightenment]

1. Good.

That crap 2002 amendment was one of the nasty ones with wording so obtuse that you damn near have to have a PhD to figure out what it's really saying. A lot of people were very confused by it - both times it was placed on the ballot. Combined with a truly awful fear-mongering campaign, it swayed just enough people to pass both times by a thin margin.

Pathetic.