Senate To Advance Domestic Partnerships Bill This Week

[Capt. Obvious]

The Senate Homeland Security Committee is set to mark up legislation on Wednesday that would ensure equal federal employee benefits for same-sex couples in domestic partnerships.

The bill – S. 1910: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act – is sponsored by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), its ranking member, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), and 21 other Democrats.

“The Senator expects this bipartisan bill to pass out of committee,” a Lieberman aide told TPM in an email Monday.

The markup dovetails a conversation about gay rights sparked by President Obama’s newfound support for same-sex marriage, which he announced last Wednesday. Republicans have refained from making hay of the issue, and at least one respected GOP pollster warns that support for gay rights is rising at an accelerating rate.

According to a summary by Lieberman, “Under the bill, same-sex domestic partners of federal employees living together in a committed relationship would be eligible for health benefits, long-term care, Family and Medical Leave, and federal retirement benefits, among others.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/senate-to-advance-domestic-partnership-bill-this-week

[longship]

1. Q: Can Rmoney even flip-flop on this issue?

Even if he would clearly lose if he didn't?

I think he's invested much too much to do anything but maintain his current insidious position.

If these trends continue, Rmoney will have no place left to stand. Who woulda think that the deciding turning point might be marriage equality. I think we should all watch this closely.

Meanwhile, in the last week, Michelle speaks at Virginia Tech and Barack speaks at Barnard. What's not to love about that?

This is high political art! Both of them are showing everybody their mettle. What's not to love about that?

[William769]

2. Recommended.

[Fearless]

3. +1