Divided House passes spending bills

04/20/2007

Immigrant aid, partner benefits rile members


BY MARTIGA LOHN and BRIAN BAKST
Associated Press
Published 04/20/2007


Talk of illegal immigrants and same-sex domestic partners brought out the cranky side of the Minnesota House on Thursday, as lawmakers approved spending bills for colleges, tourism promotion and state agency operations.

They clashed over a plan to give in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants.

And Republicans were so disgusted with the state government bill - which includes health coverage for same-sex partners of state employees - that they stopped trying to remake it and forced an unexpectedly quick vote after two days of prolonged postmidnight sessions.

"The payback to the special interests, the overspending, the bloat, the waste, the outrage - it's all in this one bill," GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert said.

That bill squeaked by on a 68-64 vote, with 17 Democrats voting no. The bill would force the state to offer health insurance to gay and lesbian partners of state employees and would allow local governments to do so if they chose.

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