Alaska State Legislature

[Oni]

Alaska State Legislature

 
   

Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage)
Web: http://gruenberg.akdemocrats.org • Contact: Deneen Tuck • Phone: 465-4940 • Fax: 465-3766
E-mail: rep.max.gruenberg@legis.state.ak.us • Mail: State Capitol Bldg. Room 110, Juneau, AK 99801

 NEW INFORMATION ADDS TO PROBLEMS WITH SAME SEX AMENDMENT

Democrats continue to battle for equal access to health benefits

JUNEAU – As the House Judiciary Committee passed a resolution to amend the Constitution to deny health care benefits to same sex couples, Rep. Max Gruenberg released an opinion from Legislative Legal Services that, even if HJR clears the Legislature, it will likely be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional. (That opinion is available in the PDF).

"This is just one more reason for the government to stay out of the business of denying health care to good Alaskans," Gruenberg said. "Not only is it wrong for us to deny equal access based on some arbitrary discrimination, but it's also unconstitutional."

Democrats for the past two years have fought to protect equal access to health care for all deserving Alaskans, and the State Supreme Court issued an opinion that agreed with the Democratic position.

"It flies in the face of the Democratic process to use the Constitution to deprive any Alaskan of health care," Gruenberg said. "I'm simply not willing to be known as a member of the Legislature that killed equal rights."

"One of the most important functions of a democratic constitution is to protect the rights of minorities, and it's our job to honor and uphold the Constitution," said Rep. Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage), also a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

HJR 9 now moves to House Finance. It takes a two-thirds of the Legislature to propose a constitutional amendment.

Rep. Lindsey Holmes can be reached at (907) 465-4919.