House stalls on ban of domestic partnerships

[MuseRider]

WE did this! Kansas Equality Coalition has been working this since it arose out of the Domestic Partner Registrations in Lawrence last year. Hard work, a fantastic and committed lobbyist and the work of the entire state board and all the chapters walking their feet off getting to every house member and talking with them. This may be nothing to some in progressive states but you add this to what we have already accomplished in the few short years we have been an organization and I can tell you that Kansas is doing great things!

The story is up on our website blog. I do not know if you can see it or not but here is the link http://kansasequalitycoalition.org/viewdiscussion.php?t=1944
If not I am certain there will be more about it on the home page soon. I am smiling really big right now!

By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. CST

The House today sent back to committee a bill that would prohibit municipalities from recognizing any domestic partner relationship not recognized under state law.

Representatives began debate on the bill but then voted to send it back to the House Judiciary Committee, setting back the measure's movement at least weeks or months if not killing the bill for the session.

The proposal would void a Lawrence domestic partnership registry passed last year by that city's commissioners.

Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, sponsored the bill, which was introduced last year. He said Lawrence’s law is counter to the state’s constitution that states no relationship other than marriage shall have the rights of a marriage.

“What possible public policy objective is achieved by allowing governmental recognition of some sort of ill defined sub-marital relationship between cohabitating opposite sex couples?” Kinzer asked during testimony last year.

Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, told the House floor on Wednesday that the registry confers no legal benefits other than what a private company may provide. He listed off many Fortune 500 businesses such as McDonald’s, Boeing and Sprint-Nextel that recognize domestic partners for the purpose of health insurance.

“Why do we want to take measures that reduce the ability of people to get health insurance?” he asked the floor.

[TomInTib]

1. All right!!!

Congratulations, MuseRider!

I know ya'll have been working overtime on this.

Keep up the Good Fight.

Tom