I know I promised some that this diary would be on another topic, but this is a bit more urgent, so please be patient with me.
The title of this diary says it all: Michigan Republicans have invented a new form of hate. The GOP, once again, proves itself to be the real big government party. Follow me below the jump.
I am revising this diary because the original source erred. The law does not apply to private employers, and only apply to public employees.
Republicans in Michigan are banning together to assure economic inequality of Michigan's gay employees.
A committee in the Michigan House approved two bills today that restrict public employee benefits only to married couples. Now the bills will go to the House floor for debate.
The House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee held a public hearing on HB-4770 and HB-4771, both sponsored by Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville. The first bill prohibits state employers from offering health benefits to anyone who is not married to the employee. The latter bill reiterates that restriction for public schools, which would also include universities.
link
That's right. If this bill passes, any public entity in Michigan would be prohibited from offering equal benefits to gay workers to lure that talent. It's the invention of a new form of hatred in which the Michigan GOP will mandate gay inequality, and limit gay people from the human right of negotiating the best financial deal for them and their families. This is mandated economic inequality that the GOP is trying to write into the laws of the state of Michigan.
Not only is this one of the ugliest forms of hatred any legislator in the country has come up with, it is a violation of the principles of the of the right to contract that the GOP espouse. The GOP has long opposed minimum wage laws because they supposedly interfere with the right of workers to negotiate a contract their services to employers in any manner they they find benefits them the most. Apparently, the GOP changes its tune when the employee is able to negotiate a contract that enriches him, at least when such an employee is a gay employee.
9:28 AM PT: In the comments TooFolkGR says that this bill will only apply to public employers. It's still ridiculously hateful. I will revise my diary if I get more info showing TooFolkGR to be correct.