But It's About Marriage, Really....
The GOP seems obsessed these days with the idea of gay marriage, or more accurately, the potential for turnout of voters who are afraid of gay marriage. The State Assembly will take action on banning civil unions, domestic partnerships and gay marriage in late January or early February.
But ask any Republican, it’s not about civil unions or domestic partnerships, it’s about marriage. So they say.
Well today, one of the more sane members of the Assembly Republican caucus, Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington), sent a letter to Karen Timberlake, Director of the Office of State Employment Relations, asking her why legislative staff received an email offering a state sponsored, 100% employee paid plan for dental care that was extended to domestic partners. There's no employer contribution or cost to the state.
Gottlieb asks, “Does the department have specific statutory authority to recognize domestic partnerships, and to offer tax-advantaged insurance plans to employees and their domestic partners?”
So much for “it’s really about marriage”. Thankfully, the GOP is so busy pandering to the far right that they can't keep on message and their true feelings show. It's about discrimination. I know Gottlieb lost a leadership race to the uber-conservative Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), but he is far better than this.
And This is a Really Important Issue Too…
On a related note, a reminder to my fellow legislators who spend time in the 78th Assembly district, which includes the State Capitol. I have a very well informed constituent base who knows who many of you are. Just because you are not in your home districts doesn't mean people don't know you.
Case in point: Two GOP Assembly members were imbibing at a local Madison watering hole, and were overheard complaining about the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and gay marriage.
“I hate voting on this f***ing amendment. I hate dealing with this issue,” said one GOPer. The other, a more rabid conservative, “I hate it too.” I hope these legislators are as articulate on the floor of the Assembly during the debate on the amendment.
But ask any Republican, it’s not about civil unions or domestic partnerships, it’s about marriage. So they say.
Well today, one of the more sane members of the Assembly Republican caucus, Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington), sent a letter to Karen Timberlake, Director of the Office of State Employment Relations, asking her why legislative staff received an email offering a state sponsored, 100% employee paid plan for dental care that was extended to domestic partners. There's no employer contribution or cost to the state.
Gottlieb asks, “Does the department have specific statutory authority to recognize domestic partnerships, and to offer tax-advantaged insurance plans to employees and their domestic partners?”
So much for “it’s really about marriage”. Thankfully, the GOP is so busy pandering to the far right that they can't keep on message and their true feelings show. It's about discrimination. I know Gottlieb lost a leadership race to the uber-conservative Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin), but he is far better than this.
And This is a Really Important Issue Too…
On a related note, a reminder to my fellow legislators who spend time in the 78th Assembly district, which includes the State Capitol. I have a very well informed constituent base who knows who many of you are. Just because you are not in your home districts doesn't mean people don't know you.
Case in point: Two GOP Assembly members were imbibing at a local Madison watering hole, and were overheard complaining about the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and gay marriage.
“I hate voting on this f***ing amendment. I hate dealing with this issue,” said one GOPer. The other, a more rabid conservative, “I hate it too.” I hope these legislators are as articulate on the floor of the Assembly during the debate on the amendment.
posted by Mark Pocan @ 4:40 PM
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