Why the Budget Includes "Live-In Bennies"

The Left-O-Wackies on Joint Finance (motto: "Smoke a joint, do finance!!") retained a Doyle policy item which will force State (and local) taxpayers to pay for health insurance for 'domestic partners.'

Why?

Because of this:

On Friday last week, a Dane County Circuit Court dismissed a case brought by five lesbian couples where one of the partners is or was an employee of the state, Dunnum v. Department of Employee Trust Funds.

The state extends sick leave, health insurance and family leave benefits for the dependents (defined to include a married spouse) of state employees. The plaintiffs claimed they were denied equal protection of law because those state benefits are not extended to the same-sex partners of state employees.

The case is particularly important because the statutory definition of “dependent” at question in this case would apply to municipalities and school boards, affecting their benefit packages and budgets. The state legislature and 8 municipalities had earlier been denied intervenor status in this case.

The judge, (who really, really, really wanted to grant the bennies) had to rely on case law. Doyle and his Left-O-Wackies knew that--the decision was anti-climactic.

HT: FoxPolitics