West Jordan Lawmaker Moves to Block SLC Domestic Partnership Registry

Feb 06, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Senator Chris Buttars is suspicious of Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's motives for creating the domestic partnership registry, which was approved unanimously Monday by the city council. Buttars is sponsoring legislation to put an end to it.

"I'm not interested, I don't think the legislature is interested in creating a new class that supposedly gives new rights that they already have," Buttars says. "What they're really trying to do is have this protected class."

Buttars says the domestic partnership registry essentially creates a new class of people, which grants them special status under the law. He says this is a slippery legal slope that cities and counties must avoid. Furthermore, he says the registry itself is illegal. He points to a provision in Utah's constitution that only allows cities to enact ordinances if they are deemed necessary, moral and not repugnant. He says the registry fails to meet these criteria. Domestic partners already have the right to co-sign a mortgage, visit each other in the hospital and share health insurance plans, Buttars argues.

"That is the main section in state code that outlines what you can and you can't do," Buttars' says. "Is it necessary if you already have that right? No it isn't - unless you've got some ulterior motive."

Buttars' Senate Bill 267 prohibits cities and counties from creating domestic partnership registries and invalidates any that are already in existence. The Senate Rules Committee was expected to consider the bill Tuesday.

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