Illinois extended gay state workers’ benefits in 2004

In the heart of the heartland real DP benefits -- health care benefits -- have been conveyed for years by governmental bodies. It is the right thing to do; it is cost effective; and it works.

Why doesn't the president and his Illinois team understand this?

By the way, long before governmental bodies protected gay and lesbian people the unions have. Thanks to AFSCME, SEIU, UFW, Unite Here, AFL-CIO, and the other labor unions.
From this morning's State Journal Register (Springfield):


Illinois extended gay state workers’ benefits in 2004
By TIM LANDIS (tim.landis@sj-r.com)
Copyright by THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Jun 17, 2009 @ 11:29 PM
http://www.sj-r.com/time_out/x998774319/Illinois-extended-gay-state-workers-benefits-in-2004


Health benefits for same-sex domestic partners were extended to state employees in Illinois as part of a 2004 negotiated agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

No enrollment figures were available from the state Department of Central Management Services, but an agency spokeswoman pointed out Wednesday that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich extended the benefits by administrative order in 2006 to merit employees under his jurisdiction.

Other state constitutional officers — treasurer, attorney general, comptroller and secretary of state — have since done likewise, said Rick Garcia, director of public policy for Equality Illinois, a gay and lesbian rights group based in Chicago.

State universities also offer the benefits.

“Most of the Fortune 500 companies provide the benefits,” Garcia said.

He added that the group was still analyzing the directive from President Obama Wednesday on domestic-partner benefits for federal employees, but that it was a step in the right direction.

According to a copy of the state policy provided by CMS, benefits generally apply to same-sex, domestic partners who are at least 19 years old, unrelated, and who have a “financial and emotional interdependence consistent with that of a married couple for a period of not less than one year ...”

AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said the state master contract covers about 40,000 employees.

He added that the benefits were included in a four-year contract extension approved in 2008.

Tim Landis can be reached at 788-1536.