Gov. criticized for vetoing domestic partner legislation

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez is drawing criticism from a liberal advocacy group for vetoing legislation that would have required the state to expedite the occupational and professional licenses of domestic partners of gay military members.

The Republican governor signed into law last month a nearly identical measure, but it applies to spouses of military members — not domestic partners in a same-sex relationship.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature approved two versions of the measure that supporters say is to help military members, their spouses and recently discharged veterans who move to New Mexico to quickly start work in licensed jobs ranging from nurses and dentists to barbers and architects. Only one of the bills, however, would have covered domestic partners as well as spouses, and Martinez vetoed it last week without explanation — more than a week after signing the other bill.

“The rest of the country has moved forward and understands the sacrifice our proud gay service members make. There is no excuse in today’s age for signing a bill that intentionally thumbs one’s nose at our gay soldiers unless you believe that their service and sacrifice is somehow less important,” said Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico.

Enrique Knell, a spokesman for Martinez, said the governor would have signed the proposal had it included a definition of domestic partner that met guidelines established by the Defense Department.

“In fact, there was no definition in the legislation at all — for a term that has been defined and interpreted several different ways in state and federal law,” Knell said in a statement.

State government offers health care benefits for domestic partners of its employees, a policy that was implemented a decade ago by Martinez’s Democratic predecessor, Bill Richardson. The partners must sign affidavits indicating they have a domestic partnership. However, proposals to allow domestic partnerships for unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples have failed repeatedly in the Legislature.

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act prohibits the federal government from recognizing a marriage other than that between a man and a woman. But this year, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines were ordered by then Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to extend to same-sex partners of military personnel certain benefits not barred by the law, including identification cards that give them visitation rights at military hospitals.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal