Senate Considers Watered Down Civil Union Law
Lawmakers Could Add Benefits For Gays To Reciprocal Benefits Law
POSTED: 5:03 pm HST March 10, 2009
UPDATED: 5:24 pm HST March 10, 2009
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HONOLULU -- The state Senate is considering watering down a bill that would have given gay couples the benefits of marriage approved earlier by the House.Hawaii's same sex couples hoped this year to get a civil unions law.Now, senators are reviewing a new proposal to reduce the number of benefits in the bill and are considering instead adding a few more benefits for gays to the state's current reciprocal beneficiaries law.Some House supporters said that probably will not be good enough."We will kind of wait and see what they will do, but if it's too watered down at that point, my understanding from the advocates is they would just rather not have anything," Rep. Blake Oshiro said.The bill is stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee due to a deadlocked 3-3 vote.
Previous Stories:
- March 8, 2009: 2,000 Rally For Civil Unions
- March 7, 2009: Civil Unions Stall In Hawaii
- February 25, 2009: 3-3 Vote Keeps Civil Union Bill In Committee
- February 23, 2009: Clergy Members Voice Support For Civil Unions
- February 23, 2009: Protesters Oppose Hawaii Civil Unions Bill
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