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Study looks at economic effects of gay marriages
June 30, 2003 (Click here to play complete Marketplace Morning Report Audio File. Transcript below is approximately 3.5 minutes into the report.) KAI RYSSDAL, anchor: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said over the weekend he's in favor of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages. But a new study shows cash-strapped states may stand to gain from them financially. Salvo Lavis reports. SALVO LAVIS reporting: California lawmakers are considering a bill that would extend marriage benefits to gay couples. A new UCLA/University of Massachusetts study examined possible economic effects of the legislation. Study co-director Brad Sears says the measure wouldn't hurt the state's budget. In fact, quite the opposite. Mr. BRAD SEARS (Study Co-director): The net impact would actually be positive and the state would have a net gain of $8 million to $10 million a year. LAVIS: The study identified different ways same-sex marriages would affect state ledgers. In California it found the state would save money, especially on lower health-care payments to married couples. Sears encourages others around the country to put his research methods to the test. Mr. SEARS: What the study basically does is provides a template for how to go through this analysis for any state. LAVIS: I'm Salvo Lavis for MARKETPLACE. RYSSDAL: And this is PRI.
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