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LAURA MCCALLUM: The action by the legislative coordinating commission was an attempt to appease both sides. Republicans who control the House oppose same-sex benefits, while DFL lawmakers want to include the coverage. DFL Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe of Erskine, says each body should be able to decide the matter for its members and employees.

ROGER MOE: This really is more institutional, respecting the long held tradition of the House and the Senate that are independent in nature, making their own determinations on these internal issues.

LAURA MCCALLUM: Moe says the Senate will likely approve domestic partner benefits for members and employees. The House seems certain to reject the idea. But Republican Senate Minority Leader Dick Day of Owatonna, argued that it's inconsistent to allow different benefits for the House and Senate. He says same-sex partner benefits discriminate against unmarried opposite sex couples who don't qualify for coverage.

DICK DAY: This is a bad policy. It's bad for Minnesotans. It's not going to sit well with Minnesotans that were the lead.

LAURA MCCALLUM: Republicans say the decision is likely to spark lawsuits on behalf of opposite sex partners who are denied coverage. But DFL assistant Majority Leader John Oettinger of Mankato says the discrimination argument rings hollow.

JOHN OETTINGER: The advancement of domestic partners benefits is something that provides benefits to a group that doesn't have the opportunity to get married. So there is no discrimination if it's not further advanced for people who do have the opportunity to get married.

LAURA MCCALLUM: Oettinger says the benefits will help the state compete for workers with private sector companies that offer the coverage. Republicans argue the legislature doesn't have a problem recruiting and retaining good employees. The commission action throws the matter to the Rules Committee in each body. The chairman of the House Rules Committee, Republican Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty of Eagan, says the commission shirked its responsibility by letting the House and Senate decide the issue.

TIM PAWLENTY: First of all, it's inconsistent. We got different employee groups getting different benefits. It's probably illegal. It's discriminatory, we can't afford it, and I don't think it's good policy.

LAURA MCCALLUM: Pawlenty says he may not even call a Rules Committee meeting to consider the issue. He says the House made its opposition clear earlier this year, with a bipartisan vote against offering domestic partner benefits to state employees. One of the legislature's two openly gay members, DFL Representative Karen Clark of Minneapolis, says she's disappointed that Republicans won't support the coverage.

KAREN CLARK: I don't understand their objection other than that it's a political posturing to play to the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. And it's sad because there are families who need health insurance who are going to be denied health insurance.

LAURA MCCALLUM: The domestic partner benefits are included in contracts negotiated with the state's two largest employee unions, MAPE and AFSCME Council Six. Many Republicans say they'll vote against ratifying the contracts when the issue comes up this session. If the contracts are rejected over same-sex coverage, the unions could go back on strike, or back to the bargaining table, prospects no one is enthused about. At the Capitol, I'm Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio.