Alaska governor
vetoes antigay bill

Alaska governor Sarah Palin vetoed a bill on Thursday that sought to block the state from giving health benefits to the same-sex partners of public employees, the Anchorage Daily News reports. In the first veto of her newly elected administration, Palin said she rejected the bill as unconstitutional despite her disagreement with a state supreme court order earlier this month that directed the state to offer the benefits, the paper said.

"Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office," Palin said in a statement released by her administration Thursday night.

The bill was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature during a special November session. (The Advocate)