Font ResizeGov. Bill Richardson advocated the proposal as part of his legislative agenda but his support wasn't enough to overcome opposition from social conservatives who worry the measure is similar to recognizing gay marriage.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-4 to table the legislation. Two Democrats joined the panel's four Republicans in blocking the measure.
The legislation would give certain unmarried couples — homosexual or heterosexual — the same rights and benefits as married couples. The House narrowly approved the bill last month.
Ten other states and the District of Columbia recognize domestic partnerships.
Lawmakers often table a bill to effectively kill it without directly rejecting the measure. The bill remains alive but is bottled in the committee, and the Legislature's 30-day session ends Thursday.
The bill could be procedurally revived but that would be difficult without a change of vote by some committee members or an unlikely agreement to allow it to bypass the committee and be debated by the 42-member Senate.
"I am extremely disappointed with the Senate committee's action," Richardson said in a statement. "This is a matter of civil rights and equity for all New Mexicans. I urge the Senate to follow the courageous action by the House and allow a full vote on this issue."
Supporters said they weren't giving up, despite the setback.
"It's not over until the session is over," said Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for Equality New Mexico. "It's
New Mexico's Human Rights Act was changed in 2003 to ban discrimination in housing, employment and other areas based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Legislature changed it again in 2004 to correct a mistake in the 2003 version.
Domestic partnership supporters packed the Senate's public gallery to watch the committee.
The legislation is "about taking care of each other," Rep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat, told senators.
"It's a bill about making sure that the government doesn't tell you who you can love and who you can spend your life with," said Stewart, the bill's sponsor.
Under the legislation, domestic partners would have the right to take family medical leave to care for a partner who is ill, the authority to make end-of-life decisions for a partner, property rights in a partner's pension and inheritance rights.
Domestic partners also would have the same responsibilities as married couples in child custody and visitation issues and paying child support.
Sen. Lidio Rainaldi, a Gallup Democrat, voted to table the measure.
"You want the same rights of a domestic partner to be adjudicated by the district court as the same rights as if married between a man and a woman. This is not saying it is a partnership. This is dealing with marriage," said Rainaldi.
Just before voting, Rainaldi told the crowd of supporters that "you're not left out in the cold" if the domestic partnership bill fails.
"You should go home and take inventory of yourself. Find out what you own and what you owe, and what you want to share and what you don't want to share. If you wish to make a will, you can make a will. And you can put anything you want in that contract as long as the other party agrees to it," said Rainaldi.
"You still have the availability and services of the laws of the state of New Mexico, which I am proud to be part of."
Others voting to table the bill were Sens. Richard Martinez, D-Espanola; and Republicans Rod Adair of Roswell, Kent Cravens of Albuquerque, Clinton Harden of Clovis and William Payne of Albuquerque.
Those voting to support the bill — against the tabling motion — were Democratic Sens. Cisco McSorley of Albuquerque, Linda Lopez of Albuquerque, John Grubesic of Santa Fe and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen.
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The domestic partnership bill is HB9.
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On the Net:
Legislature: www.legis.state.nm.us
