There's been much attention over the past week given to Rowan County clerk Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Other related issues could come before state lawmakers.
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Mary Noble says a modification in tax benefits could be placed on a legislative agenda. Noble, who’s spent most of her career in the legal profession, offered insights last week during a meeting of the Lexington Forum. She says tax policy is in the hands of lawmakers. “Let’s say a state decided that they were going to give no tax credit for the marriage status," Noble said. "They could do that, mostly likely they could do that, because they could apply it equally to everybody."
Justice Noble says the U.S. Supreme Court ruling included some ‘scathing’ comments. She says the strong language from dissenting justices did not pertain to same sex marriage itself. “Not because they are attacking same sex marriages, but because they disliked the fact that the court has substituted its judgment for the will of the people in the democratic process of allowing states to enact their own laws,” added Noble.
While she admits the nation’s highest court could revisit the issue, Noble says, as time goes on, it’s less likely. Noble anticipates housing to be the next national issue for the LGBT community.
