Detroit Free Press

By Dawson Bell

LANSING - A majority of Michigan voters oppose the idea of state and local governments providing health care benefits to the domestic partners of public employees, according to a poll released this morning.

The poll conducted Jan. 19-21 by Denno Research and the public relations firm Lambert, Edwards and Associates found that 54% of likely voters opposed the idea, while 32% supported it.

Gov. Rick Snyder late last year signed legislation prohibiting local governments and schools from offering benefits to the live-in partners of employees, an initiative backers said was aimed at conserving taxpayer resources. Supporters of domestic partner benefits, largely advocates for recognition for same-sex couples, have challenged the law in federal court.

Pollster Dennis Denno said opposition to the benefits was stronger among men (64%) than among women (46%). The survey questioned 600 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Contact Dawson Bell: 517-372-8661