ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Dec. 29 Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin vetoed a bill aimed at blocking employee benefits for same-sex partners of state workers.
Palin, who has been in office less than a month, rejected the bill despite the fact that she disagrees with a recent state Supreme Court measure ordering benefits for same-sex partners, the Anchorage Daily News reported Friday.
Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole, sponsored the bill and would support a program wherein a state employee could designate benefits to one additional person by paying extra to have that person added to his or her benefits. Coghill told the newspaper that he was disappointed by Palin's veto, but understood the constitutional dilemma she faced.
An advisory vote, scheduled to take place on April 3, will guide legislators on whether a constitutional amendment denying benefits to same-sex couples. The bill calling for the vote was signed by Palin on Dec. 20. The vote is non-binding, the newspaper reported.
Copyright 2006 by UPI
