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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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Texas Pol Fights Same-Sex Benefits

DALLAS (CN) - Three days after a court approved Dallas County employee benefits for same-sex couples, a Republican state senator asked the Attorney General's Office for its opinion on the legality of the measure.

Dan Patrick filed the request Friday, citing Texas Proposition 2, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prohibited government entities from creating or recognizing anything "identical or similar to marriage." Texas voters approved the state constitutional amendment in 2005.

"The question is, are they pushing the envelope to the edge or are they violating the law?" Patrick asked, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I would like the Texas attorney general to opine on that question."

The Dallas County Commissioners Court on Oct. 30 approved a subsidy for purchase or continuation of private medical insurance for any county employee's domestic partner and children.

The subsidy will be offered to same-sex and opposite-sex couples who provide proof that they have lived together for at least 6 months.

Commissioners John Wiley Price and Elba Garcia and County Judge Clay Jenkins - all Democrats - voted for the measure.

Republican Commissioners Maurine Dickey and Mike Cantrell voted against it.

At least three counties and five cities in the state offer domestic partnership benefits to their employees, according to the Chronicle.

Patrick, a Tea Party favorite, hosts a radio talk show on KSEV-AM in Houston.

Follow @davejourno
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