A Republican legislator says Governor Doyle's plan to extend domestic partner benefits to state employees "flies in the face" of a decision by Wisconsin voters. State Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) predicts majority Republicans in the Assembly will kill the Governor's plan. Nass says people of the state spoke clearly on the issue when they voted in favor of last November's Constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Nass says extending the benefits to partners of state employees is too expensive when the state is facing a large budget deficit. It's estimated the plan could cost the state up to $15 million a year, just for the university system. [WIBA's John Colbert contributed this report]