July 27, 2015 5:52 PM

Pensions Chairman wants AG to weigh in on whether same-sex benefits were approved too quickly

Critics of Rep. Flynn’s request say “It's been more than a month since the Supreme Court's freedom to marry ruling and some public officials still can't face reality.”

Pensions Committee Chairman Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Van, has asked Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office whether state agencies moved too quickly to approve benefits for same-sex spouses following the United States Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. He asked Paxton for an AG opinion on agencies making unilateral appropriations “if the U.S. or Texas Supreme Court recognizes a new constitutional right and compliance with that ruling requires the expenditure of additional state funds.”

Flynn asked for the opinion on July 24, which is about a month after the Employee Retirement System announced a special enrollment session for same-sex spouses. At the time, Texas Values, the most vocal of the conservative opponents of same-sex benefits, labeled the rather staid ERS “a rogue Texas government entity.”

Flynn’s one-page request on policies and procedures was attached to his earlier request of July 16, which expressed a broad opposition to same-sex marriage and asked what repercussions could occur if Texas refused to implement the ruling of the federal court. Opponents have lodged similar requests in other states.

By Kimberly Reeves