Domestic partnership benefits in Michigan

[Bluebear]

LANSING, Mich. -- Attorneys for 21 gay couples and Gov. Jennifer Granholm asked a judge Tuesday to rule that Michigan's constitution does not prevent governments and universities from providing health insurance and other benefits to partners of gay employees.

Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk heard arguments centering on a constitutional amendment approved by voters last year. It made the union between a man and a woman the only agreement recognized as a marriage "or similar union for any purpose."


Republican Attorney General Mike Cox issued a legal opinion in March saying those six words bar public employers from offering domestic partner benefits in future contracts.

But an attorney for the couples said Tuesday that health insurance is simply a benefit of employment and argued that granting it in no way recognizes a union similar to marriage. Deborah Labelle also said backers of the ballot proposal consistently claimed it was only about marriage _ not benefits.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/16/AR2005081601820.html

[DRoseDARs]

1. So he shoots up into his knuckles now? Ouch.

:)