Sep 23, 2004 - 11:24:43 CDT
FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Opponents of a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman say it could force businesses to withdraw health benefits from some of their workers.State Rep. Mary Ekstrom, D-Fargo, said she has asked for an opinion from Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem on the potential impact if voters approve the amendment in November.
"This adds discrimination into the state constitution, and I believe that is wrong," Eckstrom said.
John Trombley of the North Dakota Family Alliance, the lead group urging a yes vote on the amendment, could not immediately be reached for comment.
North Dakota voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to approve a measure that reads: "Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman. No other domestic union, however enominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect."
Former Fargo Mayor Jon Lindgren, who joined Eckstrom at a news conference Wednesday, said it could bar buinessses from offering domestic partner benefits to unmarried employees in gay or heterosexual relationships.
"We're concerned not only that a lot of people aren't following this closely enough, but that they are not following the meaning of that second sentence," Lindgren said. "It's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
He said 200 Fortune 500 businesses in the country offer domestic partner health benefits, including some of North Dakota's largest employers.
MeritCare Health Systems of Fargo has offered benefits to partners in same-sex relationships since 2003, said Harriette McCaul, MeritCare's personnel director.
"If the effect of the law would prevent us from extending those benefits, we would be concerned about that," McCaul said.
Partners of seven or eight MeritCare employees now receive health, dental and life insurance, benefits already extended to married spouses, she said. The cost to the company for extended benefits is negligible, she said.
"We made the decision based on the need for recruitment and retention of very valuable employees," McCaul said.
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