"This bill [to grant same- and opposite-sex domestic partners the right to make funeral arrangements when one partner dies] represents a disturbing trend over the past few years of the incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage, which is not the preferred way to approach this issue.

"If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnerships, it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of the state of Rhode Island decide....

"[A] one year time period [the proposed time a couple would have to be together before gaining the right] is not a sufficient duration to establish a serious bond between two individuals...[relative to] sensitive personal traditions and issues regarding funeral arrangements, burial rights and disposal of human remains.''

--Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island (Providence Journal via Change.org)