Yesterday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed into law a bill that out state representative Kyrsten Sinema called “mean-spirited,” defining domestic partners as unable to collect benefits as state employees.  The bill changed the state’s definition of the term “dependent” to mean “a spouse under the laws of this state.”

In a short interview with GayPolitics, Rep. Sinema had strong words about the discriminatory bill, stating that “In 2006, Arizonans sent a clear message when they voted to protect domestic partnerships and partner benefits.”  Sinema continued, “Some Arizona leaders have acted in contrary to the will of the people, approving a bill that really negatively affects us all.”

Back in 2006, Arizona became the first state to defeat an anti-marriage amendment, largely because the far-reaching language of the amendment stripped domestic partner benefits beyond LGBT couples.

Now, this regressive legislation has caught more than LGBT couples in its fire.  The bill, much like Arkansas’s adoption ban which barred “unmarried couples,” catches heterosexual couples in its broad net, as well.  Children of heterosexual state employees registered as domestic partners will no longer be able to collect benefits either, stripping a large number of college-aged young Arizonans of health care benefits.

Sinema went on to explain that while the bill was passed ostensibly to cut costs, the new wave of uninsured Arizonans will actually end up costing the state more.

“We warned then and it has proven true today that this kind of discriminatory law would present dangerous, far-reaching consequences for all Arizonans,” she said.