Barney Frank Files Domestic Partner Bill. -- Welcome To The Crzy House

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Date Posted: 15:34:59 06/12/03 Thu
Author: Chris
Subject: Barney Frank Files Domestic Partner Bill.
In reply to: Chris 's message, "While Drew enjoys his "honeymoon" I will try to" on 15:32:44 06/12/03 Thu

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) today filed legislation to recognize domestic partnerships within the Federal Government workforce.

Under the bills jointly introduced in the House and Senate, entitled the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2003, the same or opposite sex domestic partner of a federal employee would be eligible for the same benefits as the spouse of a federal employee. The benefits covered by the bill include retirement benefits, life insurance, health insurance, and compensation for work injuries. The lawmakers filed similar legislation in the last Congress.

"It�s time for the federal government to follow the lead of 11 state governments, over 150 local governments, and more than five thousand private-sector employers and recognize that providing benefits to domestic partners is not just the fair thing to do, it�s good business," Frank told a Capitol Hill newsconference. "Corporations are not required to do this in most places -- they do it because it helps attract high quality employees."

Frank pointed out that there is strong evidence in the private sector that offering domestic partner benefits improves the lives of affected workers significantly without a major financial impact.

"At a time when there is a substantial salary gap between government and private-sector employees with similar jobs," he said, "it simply makes sense to add a low-cost benefit to help attract more qualified people to the federal government, and make it easier to retain them once they start work."

He also noted the relatively low cost of such a measure, saying "most insurance companies now charge the same rate for domestic partners as they do for legal spouses. Very few employers reduce the salaries of employees when they get married or offer to pay them less because of the relatively small added cost of providing for spouses and children. There is simply no good reason to discriminate among employees in committed relationships: equal work should mean equal pay � and benefits."

Similar legislation was introduced last year but failed to make it to a vote.

"It's about time federal employees and all Americans were treated equitably," said Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director for the Human Rights Campaign.

"Over and over again we have seen that the American public support domestic partner benefits." Stachelberg told 365Gay.com.

"Same-sex couples work hard and contribute to this society just as much as heterosexual couples," said Sean Cahill, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Policy Institute Director.

"This legislation enables the federal government to aggressively compete with the private sector for highly-skilled workers," said Dave Noble, National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director.

"When 40% of Fortune 500 Companies offer competitive benefits, Democrats understand that equality often makes great business sense."

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        "He also argues in the brief that sodomy is a chosen behavior unworthy of constitutional protection, and fails to recognize GLBT individuals as people worthy of the same constitutional rights and protections that other Americans take for granted." That says it all. If he is unable to recognize that the Constitution applies to ALL Americans then he is unfit to be a judge on any bench. (NT) -- Drew Greyfox, 11:38:54 06/14/03 Sat