From tmyers@u.washington.edu Fri Apr 14 13:52:05 2000 Received: from mxu2.u.washington.edu (mxu2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.9]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id NAA36378 for ; Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:52:03 -0700 Received: from mxout2.cac.washington.edu (mxout2.cac.washington.edu [140.142.33.4]) by mxu2.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.02/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id NAA09803 for ; Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:52:03 -0700 Received: from mailhost1.u.washington.edu (mailhost1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.2]) by mxout2.cac.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.02/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id NAA07316 for ; Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:52:03 -0700 Received: from D-128-208-253-150.dhcp2.washington.edu (D-128-208-253-150.dhcp2.washington.edu [128.208.253.150]) by mailhost1.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.02/8.9.3+UW00.01) with ESMTP id NAA19996 for ; Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:52:02 -0700 Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 13:51:00 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time) From: Tony Myers To: uwtpride@u.washington.edu Subject: GLUE: Fwd: Gays fear governor wavering on benefits (fwd) Message-ID: X-X-Sender: tmyers@mailer03.u.washington.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 12:50:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Jen & Amy Hallmon To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: GLUE: Fwd: Gays fear governor wavering on benefits This article from the Seattle Times seems to be saying that the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) has the power to changes things so that gay and lesbian employees can cover their domestic partners on insurance - in other words, it doesn't just depend on the legislature. Does any one know how to find out who's on the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB)? I would like to write them a letter!!! Jennifer ----------------------- Thursday, April 13, 2000, 09:19 p.m. Pacific Gays fear governor wavering on benefits by David Postman Seattle Times Olympia bureau OLYMPIA - Gay and lesbian activists say they worry Gov Gary Locke will oppose a plan to extend state employment benefits to unmarried partners of state employees after hearing the governor tell them this week it's an expensive proposition. People who attended a meeting with Locke on Tuesday said they feared he would use cost as a reason to publicly oppose extending those benefits. But a Locke aide says the governor has yet to take a position and was merely discussing concerns. Next week the Public Employees' Benefits Board is to vote on whether to give health-care benefits to live-in partners of gay and lesbian state employees. The city of Seattle and King County already do that. But at the state level, it has been a continuing battle with several unsuccessful attempts at legislation and a legal claim filed by the largest state-employees union Locke told a group of gay and lesbian activists that it would cost the state $1 million a year for benefits for same-sex partners. To some in the meeting, it appeared to be a serious lapse in Locke's long support of gay-rights issues. And, coming at the beginning of the governor's re-election campaign, angering an influential Democratic bloc could have political ramifications. "I am worried, as a result of that meeting, about his political will to follow through on gay and lesbian issues," said Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the Legislature's only openly gay member, who attended the meeting. After hearing arguments about civil-rights and legal ramifications, Locke seemed to be wavering, the activists said. The proposal will be decided by an appointed board that oversees public-employee benefits. But both union officials and gay activists say if Locke publicly opposes it, it could influence the board, which he appoints. "We're all sort of holding our breath and hoping . . . he'll do the right thing," said Seattle psychotherapist David Wertheimer, who attended the meeting at Seattle Central Community College. Locke was not available to talk about the issue. Sue Crystal, his top policy adviser, said that there are serious financial implications and that this is not an issue about gay rights or campaign politics. "This is about considering all the issues that arise here," she said. "Do you limit it to same-sex partners or include all domestic partners? What are the costs, and how do you pay for those?" The Washington Federation of State Employees estimates that no more than 2,000 employees would be affected if homosexual partners were given the same benefits as employees' spouses. Union spokesman Tim Welch said the union's intention is to eventually extend benefits to all unmarried domestic partners. Attorney Suzanne Thomas, who attended Tuesday's meeting with Locke, said she explained legal issues to Locke and briefed him on an Oregon court case that found it illegal to deny benefits to same-sex couples. She said because heterosexual couples have the right to marry, they have an option to get benefits. As long as gay marriages are illegal, that option doesn't exist for same-sex partners, which means they are paid less for the same work done by heterosexual employees. Jim Munoz, a former aide to Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, said he thinks Locke is trying to appear more conservative in preparation of his re-election campaign. He and Murray said gay and lesbian activists are not likely to support the Republican nominee but might stay out of the race. "The governor drew a tremendous amount of votes and dollars from the gay community four years ago, and I truly believe if he comes out opposing domestic partnerships, he will see that fade very quickly," he said. Copyright ) 2000 The Seattle Times Company --------- End Forwarded Message --------- Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com .