A state representative who had sponsored legislation that would prohibit certain benefits for same-sex partners and unmarried heterosexual partners will have to wait until the next session in January before the Legislature considers a similar proposal.
The proposal by Rep. Mark McNaughton, R-Susquehanna, was passed over earlier this week and Larry Frankel, American Civil Liberties Union spokesman, said he was content with the outcome.
"We're pleased with the fact that the issue is done for the session because we thought the amendment was unnecessary," Frankel said. "Pennsylvania already has a Defense of Marriage Act."
McNaughton had been accusing Gov. Ed Rendell of overstepping his authority by granting gay and lesbian state employees benefits such as the right to take sick and family leave to care for partners.
Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo denied the allegation, calling it "clearly indefensible."
"The benefits extended to state employees in the last contract were products of negotiations between the state and unions representing those employees," Ardo said. "There was a give and take on numerous issues and amongst those were issues affecting non-traditional living arrangements."
Voters in 11 states voted on Election Day to amend their state constitutions to restrict marriage to a man and a woman.
The states included Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.
