Friday hearing set for King's bill to prohibit Domestic Partnership Registry

House Bill 2176 carries the title "An act to prohibit a domestic partnership registry in the state of Arkansas." Eureka Springs is the only city in Arkansas with such a registry.

This bill was passed twice in the state House of Representatives, and was then sent to the House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs.

Before the bill comes back to the floor for its third and final vote, it will require 11 "yes" votes from the 20-member committee. Only three of those members are republicans, and King said in an interview Monday morning that the democrats on the committee may oppose the bill. Only three republicans sit on the committee.

"Some democrats on the committee don't want to vote on the issue," he said. He added that he expects some committee members to stay away from the hearing, so their votes will be counted as "nay" without their having to take a stance.

Partisan games

"Those are the games the democrats play," he said.

In an interview March 9, King had also expressed concern about the presence on the committee of the only openly gay member of the house, Rep. Kathy Webb of Little Rock.

In an email interview with Carroll County News, Webb said she was disappointed that King would single her out.

"All 20 members will have a chance to vote next Friday," she said. "I am not sure why Rep. King is blaming me in advance for what happens."

Webb said she expects the committee to look at this bill as "an attempt to limit the authority of cities to do something ... within the scope of what they are allowed." She described the bill as "a mean-spirited attempt to demonize one group of people."

Webb said her basic philosophy in this committee is to allow "as much local rule as possible. This bill is the first piece of legislation which actually punishes a city and mandates that they do something against their wishes."

Mayor Joy to support DPR before Ledge

In an interview Monday morning, Eureka Springs Mayor Dani Joy said she expects to make a statement in support of the registry and answer questions at the committee meeting. She said she may be accompanied by Alderman Joyce Zeller, one of the two current aldermen who were on the council when the registry ordinance was passed.

King will also make a statement and answer questions, and then the committee members will vote on returning the bill to the floor.

Meanwhile, back in Eureka Springs, the debate has provoked a flurry of interest in obtaining certificates under the Domestic Partnership Registry. Since March 9, 10 certificates have been issued, five of them coming on March 20.