Action Alert - HJR 9 is moving to a house vote soon!

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Action Alert - HJR 9 is moving to a house vote soon!

Dear Supporter,Capital Image

Alaskans Together would like to urge you to oppose HJR 9, the proposed constitutional amendment that would bar the extension of employment benefits to the unmarried partners of public employees - and maybe employees in the private sector, too. We have been tracking this legislation and we are helping build support to defeat this proposed discriminatory constitutional amendment. The measure has moved through all committees in the House and now awaits a vote on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. We aren't sure when it will be called up for a vote, but we believe it will happen sometime before the end of the regular session - and maybe as early as this week.
Alaskans Together need your help today!

We urge you to call your state representative and ask them to vote AGAINST this proposed discriminatory constitutional amendment - HJR 9.  In particular, if you are represented by any of the following legislators:

If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment would change the section in  the constitution relating to marriage (underlined areas represent proposed changes).

Section 25. Marriage and related limitations. To be valid or recognized in this State, a marriage may exist only between one man and one woman. No other union is similarly situated to a marriage between a man and a woman and, therefore, a marriage between a man and a woman is the only union to which the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage shall be extended or assigned.

Rep. Bryce Edgmon (the portion of Southwest Alaska including Dillingham, King Salmon and parts of the Aleutians)

Rep. Reggie Joule (Kotzebue, Barrow and all the villages in between)

Rep. Mike Hawker (parts of Anchorage including Bear Valley, Chugach Park districts 1 and 2, Rabbit Creek, Golden View, Girdwood, Hiland, Whittier)

Rep. Bob Roses (parts of Anchorage including Muldoon districts 1 - 4, Cheney Lake, Creekside Park, Nunaka Valley)

Rep. Paul Seaton (Homer, Seward and surrounding areas)

It is especially important for you to call. These legislators, we believe, have sympathy for our side and may be inclined to vote against HJR 9.  However, they are all under tremendous pressure to vote in favor of the measure. We need to remind them that their impulse to vote AGAINST is the right thing to do. We need them to keep in mind that they have friends who will support them if they vote AGAINST. We need to remind them that the private sector supports employment benefits for all partners, married and unmarried, and that changing the constitution to impose these kinds of restrictions would impose a permanent disability on Alaskan employers.  We need to be bringing MORE people under health insurance coverage - NOT making up new ways to permanently exclude people from such coverage just because they're not married.

Please make a call or send an e-mail and DO IT TODAY!  HJR 9 could be voted on any day - it won't be tomorrow, but it could be the next day, the day after that, or next week.  To find your legislator's contact information please visit: www.legis.state.ak.us. Ask them - as nicely as you can - to please, please, please vote AGAINST HJR 9 when it comes up for a vote on the House floor.

Don't amend the Alaska Constitution to take health insurance and employment benefits away from hard-working Alaskans. Vote AGAINST this measure - HJR 9 - and ask your legislator to focus on issues of real importance to Alaskans.
Once you've taken action, please ask your friends and family members to call their representatives.

Sincerely,

Alaskans Together

P.S. - Another way you can help is writing a letter to the editor explaining why you oppose this proposed discriminatory constitutional amendment.