Alaska Lawmakers Thumb Nose At Court Ordered Gay Benefits

[Xeric]

(Juneau, Alaska) Alaska Republicans have drawn a line in the sand, refusing to obey a court order mandating health and other benefits for the same-sex domestic partners of state employees and retirees.

Called into a special session this week by Gov. Frank Murkowski to approve a benefits package worked out by the Department of Administration to comply with the order the legislature the House voted instead to tie the governor's hands on the issue.

It passed a bill prohibiting Murkowski's administration from granting any court-ordered health and retirement benefits for same-sex partners of state employees.

The House then passed a second bill that would put the issue to a statewide plebiscite, asking voters if a constitutional amendment barring gay benefits should go on the 2008 ballot.

Alaska already has a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the state. An attempt to extend that to include benefits failed earlier in the House.

Following Friday's vote the House adjourned.

Both measures now go to the Senate. It is unclear how the upper house will vote.

If it concurs with the House it is likely the whole issue of benefits would return to the state Supreme Court. But, if the court overturns the bills it would leave it up to voters.

Democrats were outraged by Friday's House vote.

"I think history will look back and say this Legislature tried to stop the march of progress, the march of civil rights, the march of health care," said Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage.

Last year the state Supreme Court ruled the state must establish benefits to same-sex partners of its employees in response to an action filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and nine Alaska couples.

The high court ruled that because same-sex couples are prohibited from marrying in Alaska, denying them rights extended to married couples deprives them of equal protection guaranteed under the Alaska Constitution.
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/111806alaska.htm



So much for the rule of law when it comes to Republicans and their bigotry.

[roguevalley]

1. you have to know the participants to appreciate the depth of stupidity

in this 'body'. 'lawmakers' routinely ignore, etc court orders up here.

[williesgirl]

2. If they refuse to follow court order, put them in jail & see how long they last - recommended

[xchrom]

3. and this exemplifies my problem with leaving

marriage equity up to the states.

gay folk are so far from any thing like equity in so much of the country.

and like racial civil rights -- you sometimes have to MAKE folk do the right thing.