Oregon Lawmakers
Move to Undo Domestic Partnerships

Two Oregon state senators have filed an initiative to repeal the state's domestic-partnership law. The supporters of the repeal have until July 3 to collect 83,000 signatures in order to place a measure on the November 2008 ballot asking voters if they want to overturn the law, which went into effect just last month, according to gay rights group Basic Rights Oregon.

The initiative was filed February 29 by Republicans Fred Girod and Sal Esquivel. Two groups who attempted to force a referendum on the law in 2007 are under investigation by the state for violating campaign finance laws.

"They have said all along that they would file again," Basic Rights Oregon's executive director, Jeana Frazzini, said in a press release. "While I'm not surprised that an initiative to repeal the law's been filed, I'm shocked that this effort has been spearheaded by legislators whose duty is to protect Oregonians." (The Advocate)