Cliff Stearns: “let me explain to Members, a domestic partner means a person with whom an individual maintains a committed relationship.…”

“let me explain to Members, a domestic partner means a person with whom an individual maintains a committed relationship. And a committed relationship means a familial relationship, not recognized by the United States in terms of marriage; it is just a committed relationship. The idea is the mutual caring and the sharing of a mutual residence. But commitments change. What happens if that person says yes, I am living with this person and I want health care; but he or she does not report that he or she has left this person. How will the Federal Government develop all of the regulations that are required to get competent jurisdiction in civil suits to recover damages if this person does not show that he or she has a committed relationship. Why is the Federal Government getting involved in deciding what is a committed relationship? They should get married and be recognized as married, and it should be a heterosexual marriage.”