NEBRASKA: GOP Candidate For Gov Issues Pledge To Block Marriage Benefits

Nebraska state Sen. Beau McCoy is running for governor and he wants his fellow candidates to sign on to a pledge to block benefits for gays married in other states.

“Make no mistake,” the Omaha state senator said, “every time same-sex couples get the same recognition as a married couple, the Nebraska Constitution and the will of Nebraskans gets undermined.” Nebraska voters in 2000 adopted a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between one man and one woman. “The people of Nebraska spoke out loud and clear,” McCoy said. McCoy’s statement was issued in reaction to a decision by the Douglas County Board to offer the same county employee benefits to same-sex couples married in other states that it does to couples legally married in Nebraska.

McCoy: “As governor, I will not allow the institution of marriage or our constitution to be attacked by expanding state benefits to state employees in same-sex relationships who get married in other states.” (Tipped by JMG reader Thom)