Friday, June 28, 2002
Lawmaker introduces domestic partner benefits bill for federal employees
A story published today by the Star Tribune reports that Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., introduced legislation Thursday to extend health, retirement and life insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
"It is wrong that domestic partners are excluded from benefits provided to opposite-sex spouses," he said, adding that withholding insurance benefits from same-sex couples is an issue of unequal pay for equal work.
"Up to 40 percent of an employee's compensation these days is in the benefits," Dayton said. "So if someone is being denied those benefits they are essentially taking a 40-percent pay cut."
The bill's introduction comes on the heels of a new law allowing domestic partners of firefighters and police officers who die in service to be paid federal death benefits. President Bush signed the bill this week.
Winnie Stachelberg, political director of Human Rights Campaign, praised the legislation, saying it is vital to "create a climate in this nation where all people can prosper and succeed and not be hindered by discrimination."
Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., is co-sponsoring the bill.
"Wellstone believes this legislation is about justice and basic fairness in the workplace," said Wellstone spokeswoman Allison Dobson. Wellstone offered a similar bill a few years ago, as did Frank, but neither passed.
Nearly 4,500 employers -- including eight states, seven of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies and several Minnesota companies -- provide domestic partner benefits, Dayton said.
