political paper

Head line
Story about family
Ref 71
What it does
Whats happened so far with it
What exactly it states
Amendments
Why they were shot down
When it will be voted on

Head Line: Saving Families or Tearing Them Apart

“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want my sons parents to be married, ” Dan Savage said at debate held at Washington State University on Oct. 20.

Savage is a renowned Journalist and voice for gay rights. He and his partner were married in Vancouver, British Columbia, and have one adopted son. Although they are married, their benefits as Washington State residents do not reflect that due to the current law.

Senate bill 5688 is the “everything but marriage” law that explains the rights for couples registered under domestic partnership registry.

“SB5688 was already passed by the legislature in 2009. Referendum 71 is in reaction to that bill.” Uriel Ybarra, executive legislative assistant for Senator Edward B Murray said.

Opponents of SB 5688 collected around 137,689 signatures, which allows the bill to be put on hold and go to the people and be voted on again.

Now, this already established law is up for debate and will be voted on again in November.

“We need to do what’s best for society as a whole, and looking at historical presidencies, that does not include same sex marriage,” William Stetson, vice president of College Republicans said at the debate on Oct 20.

“Priority should be given to heterosexual couples,” Stetson said. “ It becomes an issue of society when it (marriage) is institutionalized and made law.”

Although with Ref 71 marriages is not what is on the ballot.

The some of rights Ref 71 are protecting are, labor and employment law, Pensions, including survivor benefits, and other public employee benefits.

Stetson also mentioned the many amendments republicans proposed, all of which were either withdrawn or failed to be added to the bill.

“Those amendments are not needed, they just stated what the bill was not, and we do not need amendments to say what the bill is not… such as the right of refusal to marry are still reserved so amendment 673 is not needed,” Savage said.

Another argument conservatives propose is the amount of money this law will cost the state. In 2009 to 2011 it is expected to cost $606,039, and in 2011 to 2013 to cost $1,856,871.

“These cost are mainly related to the estate tax and public-employee pension and survivorship benefits. And would not go into effect until 2012, in recognition of the state budget’s current downturn,” Ybarra said.

“A couple million is a drop in a bucket when it comes to government spending,” Savage said.


Sources

William Stetson
William.stetson@email.wsu.edu

Dan Savage
mail@savagelove.net

Uriel Ybarra
Executive Legislative Assistant
Senator Edward B Murray
Majority Caucus Chair

Washington State Senate
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