Washington state's "everything but marriage" domestic partner law looks set to go before voters as Washington Families Standing Together, which was opposing it in court, says they won't appeal Tuesday's decision by a Thurston County judge, who refused to block the measure.
Washington Families Standing Together had argued that Washington's Secretary of State Sam Reed improperly accepted thousands of petition
signatures in favor of putting R-71 on the ballot.
AP: "Washington Families Standing Together chairwoman Anne Levinson said the
group will now focus on a campaign to ensure the law is retained…An 'accept' vote on R-71 would put the newest law into place, and a 'reject' vote would block it. The underlying laws laying out domestic
partnerships — enacted in 2007 and broadened once already in 2008 —
would not be affected. In a statement late Wednesday, Levinson
said the group has to prepare for the election 'without the distraction
of an ongoing legal debate.' But she said it still disagrees with the
Tuesday ruling of a Thurston County Superior Court judge who wouldn't
block the vote."
A Tacoma judge is to decide today whether the names of donors backing Referendum 71 will be released to the public.
