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The Senate has overridden the veto of Gov. Jim Gibbons on the controversial bill [SB283] to provide certain legal rights to domestic partners.
The vote was 14-7 and the bill goes to the Assembly. Fourteen votes were needed for the two-thirds majority to override the veto of the governor.
Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, said this bill is about “equality and fairness.” This allows domestic partners, either of the same or opposite sex, the same rights and duties as marriage couples….
The bill was approved 26-14 in the Assembly the first time. Supporters need two additional votes to get the two-thirds majority.
Rock on Nevada! Woot! In related news, the New Hampshire marriage bill comes up for it’s final vote this week, June 3rd. Another white knuckle ride.
UPDATE: Mad Professah adds in the comments:
If you know anyone in Nevada, ask them to call their Assemblyperson and tell them to vote in favor of a veto override. In northern Nevada: 775-684-6800; in southern Nevada: 702-486-2626. Response of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada applauds the NV State Senate on its veto override of SB283, The Nevada Domestic Partnership Registry Act. This is the most significant vote for equality by the Legislature since they ratified suffrage in 1920. We commend Senator David Parks for his leadership and all those Senators who showed courage in supporting it. The Act, which was vetoed by the Governor, was overridden by a vote of 14-7 in the Senate. We look forward to a successful veto override in the assembly tomorrow. “The only way for our State to treat its citizens is as equals under the law. This will go a long way in helping Nevada’s families. This was a resounding rejection of the Governor’s intolerance and it is wonderful to finally have something to celebrate,” said Jan Gilbert, PLAN Lobbyist. This is a tremendous step forward and we will continue the struggle for true equality under the law for all Nevada’s families.
Response of The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada
Gay and Lesbian Community Praises Nevada Senate for Overriding Governor’s Veto of Domestic Partner Bill(Las Vegas–May 30, 2009) Today, the Nevada State Senate overrode Governor Gibbons veto of SB 283– The Domestic Partner Bill. With this override vote, fair-minded State Senators confirm that relationships between any two committed, consenting adults deserve the rights, recognitions and protections under Nevada law.
14 Senators voted to override of the Governor’s veto: Steven A. Horsford; David R. Parks; Mike McGinness; Dennis Nolan; Bob Coffin; Maggie Carlton; Michael A. Schneider; Valerie Wiener; Dean A. Rhoads; Shirley A. Breeden; Bernice Mathews; Joyce Woodhouse; Allison Copening; and Randolph J. Townsend.
“Today, we are one step closer to legally recognizing committed couples in Nevada who currently cannot get married or choose not to get married, but want the opportunity to recognize their relationships under State Law and the protections that will provide them,” said Tod Story, Gay and Lesbian Community Center Board Member.
The Assembly considers overriding the veto next, where it is also expected to achieve the two-thirds vote necessary for override.
16 Comments
WowColor me shocked.
Thanks Lurleen..Had seen the snippet about the override on SF GATE…but they didn't report the Assemby vote.
State by stateslowly we turn.
Slowlybut surely.
Ain’t over ’til it’s overJust so you know, it took the changing of votes of two VERY conservative Republicans to override this veto. In one instance, the Senator recieved such horrible threateing calls, the bigotry so transparent, he did indeed change his mind and sided with us. TWO DEMOCRATS VOTED, STILL, TO DENY THE GLBT COMMUNITY IN NEVADA EVEN THE MOST BASIC OF CIVIL RIGHTS!!! Yep, these so-called good ‘ol Dems! They couldn’t see past themselves to look for the greater good. Shame on Sen. Lee and Sen. Care!
As far as the required Assembly overide is concerned, its the same situation…it may take the good will of some conservative Republicans who can see honestly that domestic partnersips is not the same as marriage. It may well be some Dems that will stand in the way of this overide…we will see.
Stuart & Robert Wymam-Cahall
Las Vegas, NV 89142
Casino RoyalMoney, honey! Politics is all leverage! And money is the trick… Whispers of boycotting Nevada if the civil union bill failed in the state legislature made Harrah’s and other casinos pay attention (see The Advocate’s story). They declared their looooovvve for us… and our money. State senators probably heard directly from the Las Vegas casino owners. Demands for an override were likely coupled with “or else” type threats. Listen to (Andy Thayer talk about this on a podcast.) Money is power. This is a good example of power-wrangling our civil rights movement needs to win. We won’t win anything if we don’t demand action backed up by real threats. You get what you ask for. So let’s keep up the heat and be precise in what we ask for.
Clearly the creeps are all thinking “Gay Marriage!”“Domestic partnership ” is a “Gateway Drug” to them.
Let’s hope the override works.
I am with you100%.
the Assembly hasn’t voted yet; need to get to 28The bill passed 26-14 originally. There are 42 members of the Nevada Assembly. 28 is 2/3rds of 42.
Marty Rouse posted this info:
If you know anyone in Nevada, ask them to call their Assemblyperson and tell them to vote in favor of a veto override. In northern Nevada: 775-684-6800; in southern Nevada: 702-486-2626.
sweet
Good luck Nevada!
Good news
Assembly followed suit 28-14 n/t
yup! It’s done! The Nevada Legislature has enacted DP!The Assembly’s 28-14 vote – the bare two-thirds majority needed – followed the state Senate’s vote a day earlier to enact the measure into state lawbooks over the conservative Republican governor’s objections.
The bill provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.
Critics contended that domestic partners can sign private contracts to accomplish many of the goals of the bill, and that it conflicted with the intent of Nevadans who voted in 2002 for a constitutional amendment supporting marriage between a man and a woman.
The measure states, among other things, that no “solemnization ceremony” is required and it’s “left to the dictates and conscience of partners entering into a domestic partnership” whether to have such a ceremony.
It’s a step foward…and reflects the Californization of Nevada and the recognition by the ‘gaming’ industry that GLBT tourists spend a lot of money in Sin City.
That said, we await the right to marry which is the gold standard of equality. It’s the real deal.
Civil unions, civil partnerships, and domestic partnerships bring needed rights but with Clintons DOMA in place in most states and nationally we’re still consigned to a second class status.
Support for parties owned by bigots, racists, mysoginists and the looter rich, like the Democrats and Republicans, is a diversion and a loser’s strategy. All it gets you is an endless procession of lesser bigots, hustlers and liars like Clinton, Bush and Obama.
The way to full equalty is the effort to build massive, militant, ‘won’t take no for an answer’ mobilizations of ourselves and our allies. Those struggles will compel some needed reforms but most importan tly they’ll inevitably lead to a radical transofrmation of society, the creation of a new society and goverment that will recognize our complete equality.
I’m In Northern Nevada,The part that isn’t Reno/Carson City. And I definitely contacted the State Senators/Assemblymen for my district, and as per usual was met with indifference at best, and outright hostility at worst.
But that’s par for the course out here in the less populated areas.
Glad to see the Senate/Assembly voted their conscience, and overrode that fool Gibbons.