Attorneys for the state of Arizona will ask a federal appeals court today to let the state stop providing insurance benefits for the partners of gay workers. Assistant Attorney General Charles Grube claims U.S. District Judge John Sedwick was wrong to issue an injunction last year that stopped the state from changing its benefits package.
That ruling requires Arizona to keep funding the coverage until there is a final ruling. State lawmakers voted to end the benefits using the excuse that they wanted to save money.
In his ruling last year, Judge Sedwick said the change is discriminatory because it makes benefits available “on terms that are a legal impossibility for gay and lesbian couples.”