Panel Advances Partner Benefits Bill
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed legislation that would provide health care and other benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee <a href="http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2009/11/panel_approves_domestic_partner_benefits.php">passed companion legislation</a> in November. Approval of the bill (S. 1102) would bring the government in line with the benefits offered by most Fortune 100 companies, including several major technology companies.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday passed legislation that would provide health care and other benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian federal employees. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed companion legislation in November. Approval of the bill (S. 1102) would bring the government in line with the benefits offered by most Fortune 100 companies, including several major technology companies.
Alyssa Rosenberg explains that approval of domestic partnership benefits still faces several hurdles, however, including completion by the Office of Personnel Management of a list potential cost savings to offset the legislation's price tag, which is estimated to be $38 million in fiscal 2010 and $63 million annually over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, President Obama on Wednesday signed into law the fiscal 2010 omnibus appropriations bill, which includes a 1.5 percent base pay increase and a 0.5 percent locality pay increase for federal civilian workers.