1. An issue which continues to come before the New Mexico Legislature is the ability of same sex couples to marry. Though people who are gay cannot now get married in New Mexico, some legislators have introduced legislation which would codify language prohibiting such a marriage.

a. Will you vote for or against a New Mexico constitutional amendment which defines marriage as that between one man and one woman and bans the recognition of same sex marriages allowed in other states?

• For
  
• Against (RIGHT ANSWER)
  
• Undecided

b. Will you vote for or against a statute amending New Mexico law that defines marriage as that between one man and one woman and bans the recognition of same sex marriages allowed in other states?

• For
• Against (RIGHT ANSWER)

c. Will you vote for or against a statute amending New Mexico law that would create Domestic Partnerships or Civil Unions for same-sex couples which would provide some of the same protections and responsibilities of marriage?

• For (RIGHT ANSWER)
• Against
• Undecide

2. President Bush and members of Congress have at various times proposed a Federal Constitutional Amendment which would amend our U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. If Congress passes such an amendment it will come to the states where 38 of them will be required to ratify it.

Will you vote for or against a Federal Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage?

• For
• Against (RIGHT ANSWER)
• Undecided

3. In the 2003 & 2005 Legislative Sessions, legislation was introduced and passed in the House of Representatives which would require insurance companies to offer health insurance for domestic partners for an insured employer that wants to offer those employee benefits. In no way would an employer be forced to offer domestic partner benefits. Currently, however, small and medium sized employers (50 employees or less) are not allowed by their insurance carriers to offer domestic partner health insurance benefits even though the same insurance companies provides such coverage for their larger employers.

Some of the large employers in New Mexico providing domestic partner health insurance benefits include: the State of New Mexico, the University of New Mexico, the New Mexico State University, Santa Fe Community College, St. Vincent’s Hospital, AOL, Intel, Home Depot, Office Depot, Qwest, Albuquerque Public Schools, Santa Fe Public Schools and City of Santa Fe. In fact, 60% of fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits for their employees.

Will you vote for or against legislation that would require insurance carriers to offer domestic partner health insurance coverage if the employer requests it?

• For (RIGHT ANSWER)
• Against
• Undecided

4. State employees in same sex or opposite sex (not married) relationships are eligible to receive domestic partner benefits including the ability to purchase health insurance coverage through their state employee partner. This benefit continues as long as the employee is employed by the state. The benefit ends, however, upon the retirement of the state employee. A married state employee may continue to purchase insurance for their spouse, but the domestic partner state employee may not.

Will you vote for or against legislation that would require the Retiree Health Care Authority to offer the same benefits to domestic partners that it offers to spouses?

• For (RIGHT ANSWER)
• Against
• Undecided