Jonathan J. Cooper Posts

A federal judge on Monday struck down Oregon's voter-approved ban on gay marriage, saying it is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said the ban unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples and ordered the state not to enforce it. State officials earlier refused to defend the constitutional ban in court. Oregon state officials have said they'd be prepared to carry out same-sex marriages almost immediately, and couples lined up outside the county clerk's office in Portland in anticipation of the decision.

Both sides are advocating for the same thing in Oregon's same-sex marriage ban case – to overturn the discriminatory law. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum will not advocate for the voter-approved measure, calling it legally indefensible.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that it's giving Oregon a $45 million grant to help spread the changes beyond the Medicaid population and share information with other states, making it one of only six states to earn a State Innovation Model grant.