New Mexico Domestic Partnership Bill Stuck in Committee

On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee in New Mexico voted on a domestic partnership bill that would grant certain unmarried couples – homosexual or heterosexual – the same legal protections and benefits as married couples. The vote resulted in a tie and many say it could mean the end of the bill in this 60 day session.

The bill technically remains alive, and a spokesman said Gov. Bill Richardson hasn’t given up on getting it passed during the 60-day session.

Said Eric Witt, Richardson’s legislative liaison….

We’re just going to have to keep working. … We’d like to get it to a floor vote… From the governor’s viewpoint this is an issue of fundamental human rights, and we’ll keep fighting for it.”

According to Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for Equality New Mexico,

We need one more vote in that committee to get it out, and we don’t think we can get it.”

This is based on one Democrat, Sen. Richard Martinez of Espanola, voting with the Repblicans against the bill. Another Democrat, Bernadette Sanchez of Albuquerque, was not present for the vote but has stated that she would vote against the bill as well. So even though it seems like only one vote is needed there is still another vote that would tie things up again.

In reality both of these votes would be needed.

The following are the voting results

For Domestic Partners

• Judiciary Chairman Cisco McSorley (D) of Albuquerque
• Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (D) of Belen
• Linda Lopez (D) of Alberquerque
• Tim Eichenberg (D) of Albuquerque
• Peter Wirth (D) of Santa Fe.

Against Domestic Partners

• Richard Martinez (D) of Espanola
• Clinton Harden (R) of Clovis
• William Payne (R) of Albuquerque
• John Ryan (R) of Albuquerque
• Sander Rue (R) of Albuquerque.