Arizona asks SCOTUS to rule on revoking same-sex partner benefits

Arizona is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower courts' rulings that the state can't take away state workers' same-sex domestic partner benefits. From Phoenix, KJZZ's Steve Goldstein has more.

STEVE GOLDSTEIN: Lawyers for the state filed the appeal on behalf of Governor Jan Brewer's administration after the 9th circuit court of appeals ruled against the state. At issue is part of the state budget law that revoked domestic partner benefits granted to couples in 2008 during the administration of Governor Brewer's predecessor, Janet Napolitano. A federal judge ruled the state could revoke the benefits to opposite-sex couples, because they could legally marry in Arizona. But he overturned the revocation for same-sex couples, because they can't marry in Arizona. Governor Brewer said she's taking action for fiscal, not anti-gay, reasons.

JAN BREWER: It wasn't just against a certain segment of domestic partners, we took it away from all domestic partners.

GOLDSTEIN: The plaintiffs who argue taking away partner benefits will be financially harmful have until August 6 to respond to Brewer's court challenge.

Listen:

Pledge Now
Give Monthly
Facebook logo
Twitter logo

Please read our Contributor Confidentiality Policy and the KJZZ Ethics and Practices guidelines. KJZZ supports Equal Employment Opportunities and works against discrimination in employment. For more information, please see KJZZ's Employment and EEO Information page.
For questions or comments about this website, please contact the KJZZ webmaster. For general comments or questions see the Contact KJZZ page for a listing of contacts by topic. Please note: Station policy mandates that listeners who win on-air giveaways on this station are not eligible to win again for 30 days.
Email regarding NPR's coverage, ethics, and funding can be sent to the NPR Ombudsman, who maintains an informative web page. For comments or concerns regarding NPR programs, listeners with a general inquiry may send an email to nprhelp@npr.org

KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges.
Copyright© 2013 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD