Posted on 11/11/2003 7:50:55 AM PST by UB355
Republican lawmakers are doing their best to try to force Gov. Jim Doyle into a corner on same-sex relationships.
But they didn't have to.
Doyle's already done it for them.
In contract negotiations with state employee unions, the Doyle administration is quietly pushing to provide, for the first time, health insurance for the live-in partners of state government workers, whether the couple is of the same or opposite sexes.
Karen Timberlake, the chief negotiator for Doyle's team, said now is the time for the state to take what is sure to be a controversial step.
"This is an issue the governor wants to make sure is on the table," Timberlake said Monday, "because it is the right thing to do."
On Friday, the first-term Democrat vetoed a bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature that defined marriage as strictly a union between a man and a woman. Supporters of the bill argue that it is needed to prevent a court from legalizing same-sex marriages here.
While deftly avoiding taking a stance on the hot-button issue, Doyle said in his veto message that he considered the bill unnecessary and mean-spirited. The issue, he said, had already been dealt with by the courts. A Doyle spokesman said Monday that the governor opposes legalizing same-sex marriages.
"It seems that nobody except members of the Legislature are confused as to whether a husband is a man and a wife is a woman," Doyle said, taking a swing at the Republicans.
But who knew that, at the same time, the guy was taking a stance on a related issue behind closed doors?
In its first negotiations with all 19 unions, Team Doyle has been pressing for this controversial expansion of who is eligible to receive insurance under the state's coveted health plan.
Even more surprising is that Doyle is doing it with little or no urging from the unions.
Marty Beil, who represents 24,000 of the state government's 35,000 unionized workers, made it clear that he is no big fan of the idea - especially if more money is not put into the plan to pay for the new insurance recipients.
"We're guarded about it," the union boss said Monday.
Timberlake declined to give us a copy of the Doyle proposal, but she said it was modeled after the City of Madison's policy. The proposal would, she said, require domestic partners to sign an affidavit attesting that they are in a committed relationship that is "both emotionally and financially interdependent . . . not just roommates."
She emphasized that a number of large businesses already offer insurance benefits to domestic partners, as do 10 other states. She said the cost of this change would be "very minimal" to the overall health insurance program.
In making her case for the proposal, she said it is needed to aid recruitment - even though the state is in the midst of paring down the number of its workers. Doyle has vowed to cut 10,000 workers over eight years.
"It would certainly be fair to say that the business community is potentially out ahead of government on this issue," she said. She added, "No time like the present to try to address that."
But why even press an issue like this when the governor's busy ripping the Republicans for wasting time on "divisive, mean-spirited bills that do nothing to grow the Wisconsin economy, make health care more affordable and accessible or improve our public schools"?
What's more, is there any way the change would become reality in the near future?
Timberlake declined to say how she thinks the not-so-loyal opposition would rule on state contracts containing benefits for same-sex couples. State lawmakers must vote on the proposed contracts for state workers.
"One can never predict what legislators will do," she said. "Far be it from me to try."
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Or only if you were having sex with them?
Define "partner." Could a state employee advertise a room for rent as follows:
"Nice neighborhood - close to shopping, 1BD/1BA, 1/2 Utilities - State health insurance included - $850/mo"
And to that "State Owned" Ford Focus, tag #11222, when picking your children up or dropping them off from school, please do it a bit faster! Some of us have time constraints. And oh yeah....Are State employees allowed to transport their children in state cars? Aren't you supposed to be working at 2:45PM?
Catch it on video. And then submit it to the local radio and television stations.
See one on a weekend? Call your legislator. See one at the mall or a restaraunt? Call your legislator. See one at Lambeau Field? Call your legislator.
You give this guy the exact details of what hours, location, number of occupants, and such and if it's improper use, they'll get fired, so be fair, accurate, and detailed.
I'm not going to give the guy's number out because he told me you need to chanel the initial contact thru your legislator.
My next step is to work on the UW bigshots in their leather appointed Mountaineers and Escalades. The use of state vehicles is very specific and has a lot of rules regarding the restriction of personal use. The state just needs to be told the exact details.
The guy even calls you back and gives you the result of the investigation in like two days. The guy is serious!
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