I guess this is a good example of the benefits of having a Dem governor and a legislature controlled by Dems. Is the Senate supposed to go to Republican control next year? Anyone know what the chances are? I'm not sure why Maine's gay groups see this as a stepping stone to marriage, since a) this is pretty good all on it's own, and b) Maine has a DOMA.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/04/041104mainePartner.htm
(Augusta, Maine) The bill was supposed to give domestic partners a handful of rights and supporters were concerned that even this tiny bit of recognition might fail in the House, but in the end Maine's House of Representatives said it wasn't enough and voted to expand it to include a domestic partner registry.
The legislation would let unmarried same and opposite-sex couples inherit property when a partner dies without leaving a will and guarantees a partner a right in making medical decisions if the other partner is incapacitated.
It also allows a probate court to designate a domestic partner as the person in charge of taking care of the remains of a deceased partner. And, in the event a partner is incapacitated, it allows a judge to designate the healthy partner to make medical decisions.
The partner registry provision requites couples to have lived together for at least a year and swear they are responsible for each other's common welfare.
A similar bill has already passed the Senate. Both bill must now be "rationalized" into one piece of legislation and approved by both houses before going to the governor.
Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, has said he supports the measure.
The bill is a top priority of the Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance, which sees it as a stepping stone to full marriage legislation.