New Mexico domestic partnership bill dies
By Ruth Schneider, 365gay.com
02.16.2010
The progress of New Mexico’s domestic partnership bill came to a grinding halt Tuesday as the state senate finance committee voted 7-4 against forwarding the measure. Supporters of the measure vowed to work on it again in 2011.
“Realistically my sense is that it’s done for this year,” said Sen. Peter Wirth, the bill’s sponsor told the New Mexico Independent. “It’s gonna happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
The 800-page bill would grant the rights and responsibilities of marriage to unmarried gay or straight couples. The measure passed the state House last year but failed in the Senate.
The move by the finance committee strikes a blow to Gov. Bill Richardson’s vow to fight for the rights of gays and lesbians in his state.
