Cross-posted at Pam's House Blend.
This is why we need collective bargaining.
The Senate Committee on Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing approved a resolution Wednesday morning that starts the process to revoke partner benefits for unmarried state workers.
The benefit plan was approved by the Michigan Civil Service Commission in January.
Republicans, led by Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), have criticized the plan as being too expensive at a time when the state is facing a nearly $2 billion budget deficit...
The total projected cost of the unmarried partner benefit is approximately .003 percent (three one-thousandths of a percent) of this year’s estimated deficit.
Republicans have tried to claim that this is about fiscal responsibility. It isn't. It's about Republicans trying to prove that they are stronger than the working class, and it's about hating gays.
More below the fold.
More from the Michigan Messenger:
The program is slated to go into effect Oct. 1, the beginning of the state’s new fiscal year. It would be available to an estimated 22,000 members of the United Auto Workers Local 6000 and the Service Employees International Union Local 517M, as well as 13,700 non-union employees.
Benefits such as this are considered cash income by the IRS and the state treasury, and are taxed as such. [Jan] Winters [of the Office of State Employer] said she was unsure if the cost offsets from the increased tax revenues from the benefit extension was included in the estimates, but she said the increased tax liability for the state as an employer was factored into the cost. Employers pay a portion of employment taxes.
Michigan was part of the 2004 wave in which voters approved an anti-gay Constitutional amendment, despite already having statutorily banned marriage equality for same-sex couples. Michigan's amendment also precludes any type of civil unions, making it a "super DOMA" state. The only way that people in same-sex partnerships in Michigan can receive partner benefits or protections is through their employer. Much of the time, the only way that can be done is through the collective bargaining power of a union. Don't forget that due to DOMA and anti-gay state Constitutional amendments and statutes, partner benefits can't be considered spousal benefits in most states. Therefore, they are taxed as income rather than be included in an employer's benefits package. Some Fortune 500 companies have begun paying their employees in a same-sex partnership extra money to offset the higher tax. However, this does not appear to be happening in Michigan.
The Michigan Civil Service Commission made this benefits decision and submitted it as part of the budget proposal to begin in October, in Fiscal Year 2012. The Commission determines the pay schedules and benefits for state employees; however, the Legislature can overrule those decisions by a two-thirds vote of both chambers within 60 days of the budget proposal. Republicans have a supermajority in the state Senate, so the resolution will likely pass there. In the House, the GOP has 63 members to 47 Democrats - a majority, but not the required 2/3 majority. 11 Democrats will have to cross the aisle to vote for this disgusting piece of bigotry. This proposed resolution will have the support of Governor Ric Snyder, who, when the benefits package was approved, said he was "frustrated and disappointed" at the additional cost.
The Unions are questioning this move.
In January, the commission extended the benefits to the two unions based on letters of agreement originally drafted in 2004, and then also extended them to the nonunionized employees as a matter of fairness.
Ray Holman, legislative liaison for UAW 6000, said he doesn't understand why the Legislature is revisiting the issue when it has rarely overturned the commission's decisions in the past.
"This has already been negotiated," he said. "These kinds of things need to be done at the bargaining table."
So let's review. The Michigan Civil Services Commission, after discussions with public employee unions, agree to an unmarried partner benefits package potentially benefiting almost 36,000 people (the benefits are available to any two unmarried people, helping people who have dependent adults such as sibling living with them, as well). The Republicans, in yet another dick move, attempt to kill that because by cutting benefits to gay people in the name of "fiscal responsibility," they shore themselves up with their base and get another chance to dehumanize LGBT workers.
Michigan ranks #2 in the number of young people who leave the state after graduation. I can't imagine why.