(Federal)Same-Sex Benefits Bill Clears First Hurdle

[SpartanDem]

Source: Washington Post

A bill granting full health-care benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees cleared its first legislative hurdle today, as a House subcommittee approved the measure along a party-line vote.

The House subcommittee on federal workforce issues approved the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act by a 5 to 3 vote. It extends several benefits to gay partners, including access to health care coverage, retirement and disability plans, and life and long-term care insurance.

The measure earned an endorsement from President Obama in June when he extended some federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. The president's memo did not give access to health care or retirement benefits, something Obama said he could not do without the legislation.

"Extending equal benefits to the same-sex partners of Federal employees is the right thing to do," Obama said at the time, noting that several top employers already offer benefits to same-sex partners.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/07/same-sex_benefits_bill_clears.html?hpid=news-col-blog

[frebrd]

1. K&R! n/t

[Boomerang Diddle]

2. K & R!

n/t

[blueclown]

3. If this passes Congress, will the President veto it?

[SpartanDem]

5. He signed an exective order giving all available benefits

that could given without this legislation. Why would you even question if he'd veto it?

[blueclown]

7. His lack of spine regarding LGBT issues is really telling.

DADT should have been repealed by now. The fact that the President hasn't used his bully pulpit to overturn that legislation tells me that he is afraid of any political backlash from repealing DADT.

[Zhade]

10. Because he's bigoted enough to deny our right to marry, that's why.

He is NOT strong on issues we GLBT face.

[pinto]

4. Kick and rec.

:kick:

[Arkana]

6. Is this on top of the thing he did a while back or is this the same idea?

[No Elephants]

8. This is good news, but does "domestic partner" include "spouse?"

[NYC Democrat]

9. im just disgusted that this was a party line vote.

[Vidar]

11. K&R