Same-sex Couples Lose in Veto Power Struggle

The bill to provide the same-sex partners of state employees access to health care was removed from the state government appropriations bill late last week during conference committee. In its place, language was inserted calling for a study on the cost of insuring same-sex partners as well as "significant others" including elderly relatives and other family relationships. The change was made in order to pre-empt a veto from Gov. Tim Pawlenty who had promised to send back the bill because of the same-sex partner language.

OutFront Minnesota, the state's leading LGBT advocacy group, called the move by the DFL to sacrifice the benefits disappointing. "While opponents try to block fair legislation, real families are being hurt because they don't have full coverage for their loved ones," the group said. OutFront's lobbyist, C. Scott Cooper said, "I do understand their desire to accomplish something and to somehow accommodate the governor's wishes in the hopes of avoiding a veto."

The Minnesota Family Council, a group that opposes homosexuality, thanked Pawlenty for keeping the promise he made at their legislative luncheon in February. "We thank Governor Pawlenty for his commitment to protecting marriage from OutFront's strategy to achieve same-sex marriage via incremental steps. I encourage supporters of traditional marriage to let the governor know they appreciate his support and encourage him to veto every bill that would enable same-sex unions, domestic partnerships, civil unions or vague language designed to create a loophole," said Chuck Darrell, MFC's director of communications.

The Faith, Family and Fairness Alliance, an inter-faith coalition that advocates for LGBT issues, supported the bill. “There are people out there trying to make a connection between access to health care and access to marriage. It’s a false argument meant to scare people,” said alliance board chair the Rev. Laurie Crelly. The Alliance said they support the new language calling for a study of the costs of providing health care to the partners of state employees, the original bill was ideal. “As people of faith we believe that providing health benefits is a justice issue, and that GLBT families should not be discriminated against,” Crelly said.

Some members of the LGBT community see the setback as one of many in recent years. A gay University of Minnesota graduate student, David De Grio, sent a strongly worded letter to Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, co-chair of the conference committee asking the DFL to "stand up for what is right, not what is politically convenient."

Three other bills offered by the DFL to provide LGBT couples and families some relief are still active in the legislature: a bill to allow municipalities to choose to offer domestic partner benefits, a bill to allow sick leave for domestic partners and a bill that would ensure that domestic partners would have hospital visitation rights during medical emergencies.