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Senate overrides governor’s veto of domestic partners bill
Measure to give domestic partners same or equal rights as married couples
Saturday, May 30, 2009 | 8:12 p.m.
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY – The Senate has overridden the veto of Gov. Jim Gibbons on the controversial bill to provide certain legal rights to domestic partners.
The vote was 14-7 and the bill goes to the Assembly. Fourteen votes were needed for the two-thirds majority to override the veto of the governor.
Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, said this bill is about “equality and fairness.” This allows domestic partners, either of the same or opposite sex, the same rights and duties as marriage couples.
Opponents say these domestic partners can get the same rights by signing contracts. But Parks said getting legal contracts is cumbersome and cost prohibitive. “There is no guarantee they will stand up.”
Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, who voted against the bill the first time it appeared in the Senate, changed his vote. And he said he received many calls that were “ugly, vulgar and threatening messages” from people who oppose the bill.
“Senate Bill 283 does not alter or redefine marriage,” Nolan said.
But Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, said this bill “is a slap in the face” of the people who voted for a constitutional amendment in 2002 that recognized marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Washington said he has been called a “religious zealot” but added “I am not here to inflict my religious view on you.”
Voters in 2002 gave final approval to a constitutional amendment 237,197 to 164,573 that marriage should be only between a man and a woman.
Backers of Senate Bill 283 maintain this is about giving domestic partners some of the same rights as enjoyed by those married.
The bill passed the Senate the first time 12-9. Nolan and Dean Rhoads, R-Elko, changed their vote to support the measure. After the vote, Rhoads said he had a lot of e-mails in heterosexual couples interested in domestic relation partnership.
He said the casinos supporting the bill influenced him as well. “Their message made sense. It is not marriage. It is a domestic partnership.”
Voting to uphold the governor’s veto were Republican Mark Amodei of Carson City, Barbara Cegavske of Las Vegas, Warren Hardy, also of Las Vegas, Bill Raggio of Reno and Washington. The two Democrats who also supported the governor were John Lee of North Las Vegas and Terry Care of Las Vegas.
The bill was approved 26-14 in the Assembly the first time. Supporters need two additional votes to get the two-thirds majority.
The bill provides such rights as community property, responsibilities for debts and the right to seek alimony in a split up between couples of the same sex or couples of opposite sex who are not married.
Parks, who is gay, said he has received 1,500 e-mails. And a survey by the Legislature, 79 percent of those questioned favored the bill while 21 percent was opposed.
The bill, Parks said would establish a domestic partner registry in the Secretary of State’s Office where couples, either of the same or opposite gender, register their relationship through the state.
This bill does “not threaten the sanctity of marriage,” said Parks. “SB283 does not circumvent the will of the people because Question 2 made no mention of partnerships or of denying people’s rights and privileges if they are in committed relationships.”
The Senate also voted 21-0 to override the veto of Gibbons on Senate Bill 234 that allowed car rental agencies to charge a small extra charge a day. At present the agencies collect a 10 percent tax of which six percent goes to the state and the rental agencies keep the remaining four percent.
The state is taking the four percent but allowed the agencies to charge to cover their costs. A spokesman for the rental car agencies said it would amount to about $1.25 a day extra.
The Senate also voted 21-0 to override the veto of the governor on Senate Bill 415 that sets the contribution rate the state contributes towards the health insurance cost for its employees and retirees.
The subsidy rate for employees next year will be $626 per month and then it rises to $680 in fiscal 2011. Gibbons wants to reduce the subsidy to $549 next fiscal year and $596 the following year for workers.
The present subsidy is $626 a month.
The bill also set the contribution rate for state retirees at $317 per month next fiscal year and then to $344 in 2011. Gibbons sought to set it at $383 and then drop it to $307 in 2011.
The present subsidy rate for retirees is $410.
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Thank you, Senator Nolan. I am glad that you listened to the constituents in your district and I will be casting my vote for you should you decide to run for reelection.
Now, let's see if Chad Christensen will do the right thing as well.
As a heterosexual man who has been singled out and harassed as being "gay" when I am not, I'd like to see this bill pass. Perhaps it'll take the "righteous indignation" out of the sails of the religious bigots who insist on discrimination as a religious privilege.
I know a few gay people, and not one of them has ever tried to "convert" me. One of them asked that if I run across someone who claims the "homosexual agenda" argument, to ask for a written copy of it as he never got one!
It seems to me the only agenda is one of exclusion by a very insecure group of people using religion as a justification for bigotry. The last I heard, Jesus didn't hate anyone.
Senator Washington apparently has not read the bill text, nor the LCB opinion, which specifically spells out that this is not marriage nor does it conflict with the 2002 Amendment (which I find repugnant, but that's neither here nor there).
And as for those who decided the best way to get their point across was to threaten Senator Nolan...you only have yourselves to blame for him switching his vote.
Passing this isn't about providing rights to gay couples-although they benefit-
Casinos would lose a ton of business if Nevada decided to vote this down. All you Family First people aren't spending big bucks in the casinos.
While the senatorial support is hypocritical it accomplished the goal-
THe senate has to be ashamed of themselves. Being a Roman Catholic all my life, its always been a man and a woman, and it should stay that way. What is our state and country turning into?
The poison that came out of Senator Washington was unbelievable. This coming from a man who less than 50 years ago would have been castigated for the color of his skin. Reverse racism is very apparent in the United States today.
delcamp:
What part of "this is not a marriage" isn't sinking in? This isn't even to the level of a civil union.
This gives them the right to visit each other when one is in the hospital. The responsibility to assume each other's debts if they so chose.
In other words, things that are granted by the secular state and not from the church. Churches aren't going to be forced to change thing one about what they do under SB 283.
And as I said before - getting a legal contract drawn up is expensive, and can be undone quite easily compared to this. Even if you go to a lawyer, have documents drawn up, and have them signed, counter-signed, and notarized someone can come along and drag it out in court that "you didn't really mean it".
I would ask that Americans of the Christian Faith in particular, discontinue to use the religious argument against members of the LGBT community. It clearly states in the constitution that - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This issue is about equal rights not religious freedom.
I find it very offensive when someone attempts to impose Christian religious mores upon me or anyone else who is not a Christian. I am not a Christian nor will I ever be a Christian. The Treaty of Tripoli, which was unanimously passed by the United States Senate in 1797, states: "the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." John Adams the second president of the United States stated exactly as in the treaty, The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. Thomas Jefferson said, "religions are all alike - founded upon fables and mythologies." For further clarification Article VI of the constitution states, "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
As the constitution states I will respect your right to practice what ever faith you decide upon as long as it does not affect my life, my liberty and or my pursuit of happiness.
finally i am glad they over ride gibbon. don't u know all heterosexual marrriage in divorce 50 to 60 percen. don't u know god loves every1. now DECLAMP you can't talk about moral value look at arcdoicse do with your child molester preacher look at the pope who a nazi youth back in ww2. so don't give me your crap
Thank you Sen. Nolan and Sen. Rhoads (as well as Sen. McGinness and Sen. Townsend) for demonstrating that there are Republicans who are willing to 'walk the walk' when they say they are against government intrusion into individuals' liberties. Thank you of course to Sen. Parks and the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats who supported this landmark legislation.
Thank you also Sen. Washington, for clearly and concisely demonstrating that the term limits law does have some benefits.
and thank you Bill in Henderson for saying what everyone was thinking!
Good job Nevada legislature! With this override of the veto, Nevada enters the 21st century in civil rights leadership without interfering with the will of the voters (that stance of Gib's has been debunked- voters never wanted to block measures like this, only marriage).
This will bring more tourism and quite possibly more residents to the state; only good things can come out of this bill.
Now we just need to replace Gib in 2010 :)
Nevada's Judges keep a $30k per year pay increase while Nevadans taxes increase to cover the costs!
While the Legislature votes to increase taxes on Nevadans they also allow a $30,000 per year pay increase plus increase in retirement benefits for Nevada's Judges. These same judicial officers rank among the highest paid in the nation. How can the Legislature justify allowing this significant increase to stand at the expense of education, police, and other important and necessary services?
There are lots of single, disabled veterans living alone who would welcome the equal opportunity to have equal rights and civil liberties in a domestic partnership - and it has absolutely nothing to do with their sexuality or religion - it just is not safe to live alone when you're disabled!
Thousands of disabled veterans (and disabled non-veterans) have been abandoned by their natural families. Consequently, they have fallen back on their military training and remembered how important it is to "buddy up" with another vet as room-mates - but, they need the protection of this sort of common-sense law!
Tons of money can be saved by not having to pay for the cost of aide and attendance when many of these services are provided for free out of just being friends and doing the right thing!
Live are saved when a "domestic partner" is able to provide key information quickly to emergency health care professionals in a crisis (allergies, current medications, health history, etc.) - and a "domestic partner" can save the Nevada taxpayer thousands of dollars when they, not a state agency, has to make final plans for funeral decisions and disposing of property!
This bill just makes sense - please encourage all of our legislatures to set aside their own personal religion and to look beyond their own limited life experiences to do the right thing and pass this bill - especially for all of the single people who wish to have the sense of security and peace of mind that someone that truly cares about them will be able to carry out their wishes in case of an emergency or death!
There are also lots of retirees who cannot afford to remarry or they will lose their benefits.
This doesn't only help gays and lesbians, it helps all those on social securtiy who cannot afford to marry their domestic partner because they would lose a portion of the social security or retirement benefits.
It would be helpful for you all to stop making this a moral or religious issue and start thinking of it as a financial one.
Great news! The Assembly overrode the veto as well!
I'm glad to see that the elected representatives are a lot smarter than that moron Governor. Please find a way to throw that jerk out of office. If Nevada is against Domestic Partnerships, then they obviously don't want me coming to Vegas and spending my money.
Ryan -- shouldn't "not threaten the sanity of marriage" be "not threaten the SANCTITY of marriage," or did Parks really say that?
delcamp -- you just go ahead and stay a Roman Catholic for the rest of your life and leave the rest of us who can think for ourselves alone. Then read up on the history of your church, particularly its WWII concentration camps, Inquisitions, paederast priests, and slaughtering the Americas' first civilizations.
Comment removed by staff.
@FastCamron
I think he meant please stay out of our lives... that includes legislating oppressive religious beliefs upon us... not saying that you can't think for yourself because you're certainly welcome, but please don't infringe upon our civil rights. We don't infringe upon yours. You're free to do this within your church, but there is such a thing as "Separation of church and state"
(You do not have a right to be shielded from other beliefs, other people, being offended or disgusted, or people who disagree with you, etc. Those aren't constitutional rights and if you think they are, you need to grow up.)
FastCamron -- your god, your faith, your bible and what your mommy and daddy and the bully pulpit scared into you are completely irrelevant to this discussion.
Some of the rest of us actually grew up and started thinking for ourselves.
"Christianity was from the beginning, essentially and fundamentally, life's nausea and disgust with life, merely concealed behind, masked by, dressed up as, faith in "another" or "better" life."-- Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, p.23 (gleaned from a great source: http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quot...)
Yep, I expected nothing less from the liberal left, bullying constitutional contortionists. KillerB, your mouth proceeds your name. I don't care about any of your quotes, I'm not all the sudden going to lose my faith cuz of your moronic freak you call Friedrich. You brought religion into this, no one else.
I am with Obama and Reid on this one.
We are against gay marriage like Obama says it is all about the SANCTITY of marriage.
I so glad when Reid published that letter stating his strong support for Nevada's ban on gay marriage.
There should not be a federal ban on gay marriage but each state should be able to ban it.
FastCamron -- thanx, you're the first to prove my points with your posted tantrum.
Hey, "FastCamron" many of us were raised in the Christian faith and remain people of faith - and support the civil liberties and rights of and for ALL!
Our Dad was smart enough to make sure we had Red Letter Bibles where the words of Jesus were printed in red ink - and the rest of the writing was in black ink. Then, good old Dad insisted that we focus on the words of Jesus and the meaning of the words - yeah, he made us think critically by asking questions!
And my studies led to majoring in World Religions and Philosophy - and I continue to study many of the great leaders, thinkers and writers in history! I know, I know, it sounds a lot like W-O-R-K and that's a 4 letter word now isn't it?
While I remain a person of faith - I am also very much an agnostic (as in undecided) on many, many issues - and, wait for it, take a deep breath, I am also an ATHEIST when it comes to all these gods I've heard about that are hateful - and their stupid or simply sick followers!
I still struggle with trying to define MY God, in MY heart and mind and soul - you see, it's a very private, personal and intimate thingie (and none of your, or anyone, else's business) - so, I rarely speak about it publicly!
So, here's the deal for me...when I see the words "In God We Trust" - it means do NOT trust anyone else!
When I read how the Founders took so much time arguing and debating over such big ideas like separating churches and the state, and religious freedom - I'm really confident the best explanation is that no church or religion should have any power to interfere in state or federal matters - so, that EVERYONE (and that includes those who are non-religious, secular, non-theists, atheists and agnostics) are free from religious interference in the exercising of their freedom and liberty!
While small minded, and broad minded, people are also free to believe whatever they wish too - it's that freedom thingie again!
So, some of us are ecumenical (that's a fancy word that means non-exclusive and and all inclusive) - you might look it up, read about ecumenicism and think about this group?
Get over it "FastCamron" most of us, (and that includes those of us who have spent a lot of our lives actually studying philosophy and world religions) are really tired of the stupid diatribes from under-educated, shallow spiritual types like you that probably couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation outside your limited view of what your Mommy and Daddy told you to do!
The Constitution provides you with not only a right to freedom of expression - you also have a right to remain silent! Especially, when you just don't know what you're talking about!
Let me make this really simple: Agreements made between other people are private and none of your business! What your neighbors are doing, or not doing, in the privacy of their homes (including their bedrooms) is, also, none of your business too!
I would like to thank Harrah's casino for your voice of reason.
I would like to thank all the Senators would voted to over turn the veto of the very confused Governor of nevada.
This is victory for the economy of las vegas and the entire state of Nevada.
Keep up the progressive attitude and continue to keep the religious right in your prayers.
I look toward one day that the hate for others will stop. I think that the vote May 30, 2009 is a start.
LVPaco, racism is racism. what is reverse racism?
It is so silly and childish to deny a group of people something that you have just because you dont believe they should have it. Sanctity of marriage my a$$. It means nothing when you have people getting married and devorced in the same week. People get married for a multitude of reasons other than love and family. When I was in the millitary people got married just for the extra benefits/money and to be able to live off base. I am sure it still happens. And as for the definition of marriage...How many words in the english language have more than one meaning? Quite a few. Bigotry and exclusionism still runs rampant in this country. With that being said, its just a matter of time before gays have the right to marry in all 50 states. Dont kid yourselves people. Countries all over the world are doing it and america will slowly creep into the 21st century. To bad we couldn't be the worlds leader on this issue.