Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, December 22, 2006 Page: 19 of 72
seventy two pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
sion, we don't want any more dilly-dallying by
the Legislature or the executive branch."
In the 1999 case, the ACLU and nine couples
filed a lawsuit challenging the lack of benefits for
same-sex couples employed by the state and the
municipality of Anchorage.
The high court ruled in October 2005 that
denying benefits to same-sex domestic partners
violated the state's guarantee of equal protection
for all Alaskans. That's because the state consti-
tution restricts marriage to between a man and a
woman.
The high court last summer set the deadline for
the state and the Municipality of Anchorage to
begin providing the benefits by January and sent
the lawsuit to the Superior Court for implemen-
tation. The municipality has since implemented
regulations, complying with the law.
Scott Nordstrand, former commissioner of the
Department of Administration, adopted the final
regulation on Oct. 13 and sent it to the
Department of Law and then-Lt. Gov. Loren
Leman for filing.
Six days later, the ACLU filed a motion asking
the Supreme Court to adopt even less stringent
standards than what Nordstrand proposed.
On Oct. 30, the Superior Court ordered the
state to ease its regulations by Nov. 1.
In the meantime, Leman questioned
Nordstand's authority to implement the regula-
tions, and then-Gov. Frank Murkowski called a
special session to deal with the issue.
Nordstrand vowed at the time that if lawmak-
ers failed to implement regulations, he would.
The Legislature didn't take up the issue during its
regular session and two subsequent special ses-
sions on the natural gas pipeline contract.
During the third special session called specifi-
cally to address the benefits issue, lawmakers
refused to grant Nordstrand authority to pass the
regulations. Instead they passed a law ordering
him not to implement them. That law, however,
was never signed by Murkowski.
The state's health and retirement benefits plan
covers approximately 5,000 people at a cost of
$340 million, Nordstrand earlier said. The cost of
extending benefits to same-sex partners won't be
known until the regulations are in effect.
MAEDGEN SMILE DESIGNS AT TURTLE CREEK
GO FROM H0-HUM TO
HUHHA-HUBBA!
From preventive dental care to specialized services such as
Zoom 2!™ Whitening, MAEDGEN SMILE DESIGNS is the first
step in your pursuit of perfection. For an exclusive offer,
visit www.MaedgenSmileDesigns.com/voice and be on your
way to a brighter smile.
n has been voted
W6 YEARS IN A ROW!
Newsmmine and Lambda Pages rea
ALAN MAEDGEN, DDS 3838 OAK LAWN AVE, SUITE 177 214.559.7266
MAEDGENSMILEDESIGNS.COM
Now Accepting New Patients • Emergencies Welcome
Most Insurance Accepted • Financing Available
Experience the luxury of these new, beautifully designed two- and three-story
floor plans while enjoying the convenience and simplicity of owning a townhome in
Lakewood. For more information, visit our Sales Gallery at 1600 Abrams Rd. #13.
From the $Z30s
Mockingbird
Stratford On-Site Sales Gallery
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-/, Sun Noon-7
cityhomesdfw.com
866.Z9I.ZI89
cituhomes
I byCENTEX
I Prices offered are subject to change without notice. Realtor participation welcome. CityHomes is a subsidiary of Centex Corporation
| | listed on the NYSE. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity '
I J™™- throughout the Nation. We encourage and support the affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers i ax
to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
12.22.06 I dallas voice I 19
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, December 22, 2006, newspaper, December 22, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238940/m1/19/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.