Posted by State Representative Kevin Petersen, July 28, 2009

On November 7, 2006 Wisconsinites voted 1,264,310 to 862,924 to define marriage in this state as being solely between one man and one woman.

Specifically, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to say, “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” The ballot question and new Constitutional language even went as far as to state that a legal status “substantially similar” to marriage shall not be recognized in Wisconsin.

Fast forward to the 2009-11 budget introduced and passed by Governor Doyle and the Democrats. In it, they created a domestic partner registry which takes effect on August 1st, 2009. Each County Clerk will be required to create and maintain a registry comprised of same-sex partners who petition for recognition as a domestic partnership.

Once on the registry, these partners become eligible for certain rights and benefits similar to those provided to spouses. Wisconsin is the only state in the Midwest that concurrently recognizes domestic partnerships and has a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions.

The requirements defining a domestic partnership comprise being at least 18 years old, same-sex, no closer in relation than a second cousin, not married or in a domestic partnership with anyone else, and sharing a residence or “intending” to share a residence with your same-sex partner. These requirements are obviously relaxed enough to be open to fraud and abuse.

Why, when so many voters in our state recently said no to same-sex marriage, are Democrats passing legislation that creates government recognized partnerships similar to marriage? Then again, the Governor and Democrats are doing many things this session that Wisconsinites disagree with.

Despite objections from a majority of Wisconsinites, they are outspending, out-taxing, and out-borrowing more then ever before. Although not fiscally prudent to any reasonably thinking person, the Democrats are consequently leaving billions in deficits to our children.

When casting their vote in November of 2006, it’s ludicrous to think voters overwhelmingly supported defining marriage between one man and one woman, but at the same time supported spending $7 million tax dollars annually on domestic partnership registries.

Ironically, in the same budget that cuts funding to our public schools, cuts funding to our local municipalities, and cuts funding to vital state services, money is available to support domestic partnerships.

The creation of domestic partnerships will no doubt be challenged in court. Already, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the existing marriage amendment this fall. That case may be decided by the end of this year and depending on the outcome will determine whether or not the creation of domestic partnerships will be challenged as well.

It is not time to pass bills that completely contradict the will of the people just to court the favor of special interests groups. When 60 percent of the state says “NO” to state recognized same-sex partnerships and two years later the Democrats pass them into law anyway, I think it is reasonable to say that they are out of touch with the residents they are supposed to represent.

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