Nevada Senate passes domestic partner bill, Governor vows veto

April 23, 11:31 AMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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      NV Gov. Jim Gibbons and First Lady Dawn Gibbons

Last night, the Nevada Senate passed its first Domestic Partnship Bill, with a vote of 12-9.  However, Governor Jim Gibbons has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the state Assemply, saying simply, "I just don't believe in it."

The bill is well-supported by Nevada's first lady, Dawn Gibbons, who hosted several gay rights activists at the Governor's mansion last night before the vote.  She said she couldn’t understand why there was such a big deal about the legislation.  “I have a lot of gay friends and their relationships have lasted longer than many marriages,” she said, bringing chuckles to the crowd.  She and Gov. Gibbons are in the midst of a very public and contentious divorce.

The bill would grant such rights as community property, financial support after dissolution of a partnership and the rights to ownership of property.  It would not require an employer to extend healthcare benefits to domestic partners, though employers could opt to do so voluntarily.

Openly gay Senator David Parks (D-Las Vegas), who wrote and sponsored the bill, did an outstanding job of defending it  from the questions of the non-supporting senators, according to the HRC.  An amendment by Senator William Raggio (R-Washoe) that would have left a mere shell for domestic partnerships was quickly defeated, and then the debate moved back to the original bill. 

Two Repulican Senators, Mike McGinnes and Randolph Townsend, both crossed party lines to vote in favor of the bill.

The bill now goes to the state Assembly, where it is also expected to pass.  To override the Governor's veto, the bill must get a two-thirds majority vote in both the state Senate and Assembly. The bill's opponents say it does not have enough votes to accomplish a veto at this time. However, Parks says he believes the state legislature does have the votes needed.

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