Bisbee Won't Challenge Arizona Marriage Law

Bisbsee city officials will not attempt to do an end-run around Arizona marriage law by allowing the counterfeit civil unions it approved last week.Arizona's Attorney General Tom Horne had threatened to take the city to court for defying state marriage law, and the city backed down.Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said in an email alert tonight: "Today, the City of Bisbee acknowledged what we've said all along: Bisbee lacks the legal authority to enact a so-called "civil unions" ordinance that grants marital-type benefits to unmarried individuals. The city now plans to revise the recently adopted ordinance."Also, Herrod said the power to grants marital benefits is a power reserved to the state and the voters of Arizona. In 2008, Arizonans strongly voted in support of marriage being defined as the union of one man and one woman."While this debate is far from over, today's announcement is a victory for the rule of law, and the will of voters," Herrod said.