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Law

IRS Ruling Could Mean Upswing in Same-Sex Marriages in Wash.

Elaine Thompson
/
Associated Press

County officials who issue marriage licenses in Washington state are gearing up for a possible influx of new applicants following the Internal Revenue Services’ ruling that states gay marriage will be recognized across state lines for federal tax purposes.

Thursday’s ruling means for the first time, there will be a financial incentive for same-sex couples in Oregon or Idaho to cross over into Washington to get married. Their marriage will be recognized by the IRS when it comes time to fill out their tax form.

Washington doesn't require people getting married to be residents of the state, but that's small consolation to gay rights groups in states that don't recognize same-sex marriage.

Amy Ruiz with Oregon United for Marriage says gays and lesbians shouldn't have to cross state lines in order to get married.

"It's really unfair to ask people to leave their home in order to marry the person that they love. Everyone should have the ability to do that right where they live,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz's group is collecting signatures to try to get a measure on next year's ballot to overturn Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. Oregon does offer tax benefits to same-sex couples who enter domestic partnerships. Idaho offers no such status.

Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.