3099
(0 votes, average 0 out of 5)
Written by Louis Weisberg, Staff writer
Jun 16, 2011
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said he will enact an ordinance extending health benefits to the same-sex partners of county workers. Former County Executive Scott Walker vetoed a related measure in 2009.
“To continue offering one category of employees fewer benefits than others is unfair and makes it more difficult to attract the best possible job candidates,” Abele said in a statement. “I will work with the county board for passage of a sensible domestic-partner benefits ordinance, and I will sign it.”
Abele first revealed his intention to pass a domestic partner ordinance during the opening ceremonies of Milwaukee PrideFest on June 10.
Employees of the state and the city of Milwaukee already receive partner benefits, as do employees of many private Wisconsin-based companies, including Northwestern Mutual, Aurora Health Care, Foley & Lardner, Miller Brewing, M&I Bank, Associated Bank and Marquette University. A majority of the nation’s Fortune 500 companies also provide such benefits.
Fair Wisconsin applauded Abele’s announcement.
“County Executive Chris Abele’s announcement is a signal that Milwaukee County is once again moving forward under his bold and visionary leadership,” executive director Katie Belanger said in a statement. “Providing domestic partner health care coverage to county employees is an important step toward building a fair and inclusive work environment and a strong county government. We look forward to working closely with the county executive and the Milwaukee County Board to make this proposal a reality.”
In 2009, the board voted 13-6 for a measure to look into the cost of extending health insurance to the domestic partners of county workers. Walker vetoed the measure. He said it would cost taxpayers too much, even though the measure would not have provided the benefits but rather ascertained their true cost to taxpayers.
Walker said the benefits would cost $4 million annually. But benefits provided by the City of Milwaukee, which has a much larger workforce, cost $216,000.
