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Opinion: Nevada lawmakers override governor’s veto to approve domestic partnership rights for gays

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The Nevada Legislature has once again overturned a veto by Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons -- this time a bill granting domestic partners, gay and straight, similar rights to married couples.

Backers hailed the razor-thin victory -- 28 to 14 in the Assembly and, earlier, 14 to 7 in the Senate -- as a testament to tolerance, while opponents argued the measure ignored the will of Nevada voters, who have banned gay marriage. The lawmakers voted to override the veto Sunday.

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Among those favoring the domestic partnership legislation were members of the state’s influential casino industry who, as the Ticket previously reported, feared Gibbons’ veto would encourage gays and lesbians to boycott the state.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal also noted that the vote made Gibbons, who has struggled with a Democrat-controlled Legislature ‘the most overridden governor in Nevada history.’

In the photo here, taken in May on the steps of the state Capitol in Carson City, Gibbons holds up two pieces of legislation he vetoed — one on sales tax, and one on salaries and furloughs of public employees. The Legislature has overturned those vetoes too.

-- Ashley Powers

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