3 States' Approach to Gay Marriage, Partner Benefits and Civil Unions

In Indiana:

A vote in the Indiana House on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage has been delayed for at least a day.


Resolution sponsor Rep. Eric Turner of Marion said he wouldn't call it for a vote on Monday because some House members who want to support it were absent for the day. He didn't specify when he expected a vote.


Political analysts expect that the ban is almost certain to pass, with Republicans in control of the Legislature. The amendment states that only marriage between one man and one woman is valid in Indiana, and prohibits civil unions by stating that a legal status "substantially similar" to marriage for unmarried people is not valid.
Opponents have argued that the amendment isn't needed because Indiana law already bans gay marriage, but supporters said they are concerned that the courts could overturn that law.Supporters also contend that traditional heterosexual marriage is best for raising children. Opponents said the amendment seeks to write discrimination into the state's constitution.

In Colorado: Senator Pat Steadman introduced a bill to create civil unions in the Colorado.

And in Arizona:

Attorneys for the state will ask a federal appeals court today to let Arizona stop providing insurance benefits for the partners of gay workers.

Assistant Attorney General Charles Grube contends U.S. District Judge John Sedwick was wrong to issue an injunction last year barring the state from altering its benefits package.
That ruling requires Arizona to keep funding the coverage until there is a final ruling, which could take years.
State lawmakers voted to end the benefits to save money.

Grube said that before issuing an injunction, Sedwick was required to consider not only the claims of harm to the people losing benefits, but the harm to the state by being required to maintain them. But Grube said Sedwick was "explicitly dismissive" of evidence presented by the state about the cost burden on taxpayers of continuing to provide coverage.

Conversely, Grube said Sedwick gave too much credibility to what he said are little more than unproven allegations by those challenging the law.

Arizona provides benefits to the dependents of its state and university employees. But before 2008, that didn't include domestic partners of unmarried workers.

Trying to keep y'all informed.