Following is a letter that I sent to Rep. Sherry Appleton earlier Tuesday.

Dear Rep. Appleton,Thank you for your prompt response to my call to the Legislative Hotline voicing my opposition to same-sex marriage.  However, your response leaves me confused.  Your office wrote:

“In the U.S. tax codes there are 1,044 laws that only currently apply to married couples, not domestic partnerships, et al. Rep. Appleton has always felt that if someone is apart [sic] of our democracy, pays taxes, that they should be allowed all the rights and privileges that all of us are entitled to.”

How can a change to Washington state law affect a person’s treatment under the U.S. tax code, which is a part of federal law? If the proposed law passes, same-sex couples who are recognized as “married” in Washington state would not be recognized as such for the purpose of the U.S. tax code. A cynic might conclude that your argument, while fine sounding, is spurious.

Christopher Moore
Poulsbo