The Attorney General's legal opinion on domestic partner benefits has one community cautiously optimistic.
The City of Madison offers employees domestic partner benefits and asked the Attorney General for the opinion.
George Twigg, the mayor's spokesman, says the city wanted to know where it stood if someone challenged the benefits after passage this November of the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Twigg says it's happened in other states after similar measures were approved by voters.
As one of her last official acts, outgoing Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said the gay marriage ban should have no affect on domestic partner benefits offered same sex couples by public or private employers.
Good news says Twigg but the city will be ready to defend its benefit ordinance. The AG's opinion is only advisory but can be used to build a case in court.