ADF agrees with Idaho A.G.: Moscow domestic partnerships violate state constitution
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4397
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND STATEMENT
February 15, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020
ADF: Idaho A.G. correct
on ‘domestic partner’ benefits policy
A.G. opinion says Moscow resolution violates state constitution
BOISE, Idaho — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund say that an opinion released by the Idaho attorney general correctly finds that the city of Moscow’s domestic partnership resolution violates the state’s constitutional amendment affirming marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
“The government should promote and encourage strong families consisting of a married mom and dad. The state’s marriage amendment does that; the Moscow policy does not,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum. “ADF commends Attorney General Wasden for seeing through this attempt to bypass the state constitution. Marriage is under attack because certain special interest groups are trying to reduce it to nothing more than a benefits system for emotionally attached couples.”
In November 2006, Idaho voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment affirming marriage. On Dec. 17, the city of Moscow passed a resolution extending health benefits to “domestic partners,” individuals in temporary live-in relationships. At the request of Idaho Senator Russell Fulcher, the state attorneys general’s office was asked to look into the constitutionality of the resolution.
A copy of the letter to Fulcher from the Idaho Office of the Attorney General is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/IdahoAGOpinion.pdf.
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