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In a letter to Sen. Don Betzhold, DFL-Fridley, and Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he wouldn’t sign a bill that contained health benefits for same-sex couples. The omnibus state government bill currently being negotiated in conference committee provides domestic partner benefits for state employees. Pawlenty named that the top reason he wouldn’t sign the bill.
“The House bill requires that state-paid health insurance must be made available to domestic partners if a collective bargaining agreement or plan provides state paid health insurance to spouses,” he wrote. “The bill extends benefits to both same sex and opposite sex partners, I oppose this provision and will not sign a bill that includes this expansion of benefits.”
Minnesota extended those benefits briefly under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In 2003, a Republican-led House refused to ratify a labor contract that contained the benefits, and 85 families lost their health and life insurance benefits.
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7 Comments »
Comment posted May 5, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
I believe that the previous attempt to extend benefits to same sex partners was during AFSCME and MAPE labor negotiations in 2000. I do remember that it was the Republican led house that made the unprecedented move of not accepting labor negotiations that had been agreed upon by the governor, DOER, and the unions. the house had NEVER injected themselves into this process before. Oh, and it just so happens that the House Majority Leader at this time was our pal Tim Pawlenty.
Comment posted May 5, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
And here I thought conservatives were just defending the “sanctity of marriage.” Shameful.
Comment posted May 5, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
TP once a jerk always a jerk. Minnesota does not need this guy with the credit card mentality and policies to indebit Minnesotan’s for the next 3 generations. I believe in fiscal conservatisim – which is the exact opposite of this governor who can only pander to his rich friends and corporate buddies because he owes them and wants their support in 2012. Good luck with that t.p.
Comment posted May 5, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
BTW gov – one of your supporters that gave a lot of funds to you – is in jail – his initials are also t.p. Just a coincidence?
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Comment posted May 20, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
What a jerk. Dude needs to fall down a mineshaft.
Comment posted June 16, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
OK, so how about all the legitimate spouses that don’t have benefits extended to them in the private industry? (I for one purchase a single payer policy for $1100 quarterly and pay out of pocket $3000 per year before any benefit is paid).
How about the fact that homosexuals on average have higher income levels than heterosexuals and very few are raising families as well?
Now wouldn’t it be likely they would each have benefits through their own individual employers?
How about the additional cost to the tax payer?
Excuse my naivete but could this be just another weasel (no shame) attempt to incrementally institute homosexual marriage? Ya think!
Gov. Pawlenty, I personally applaud your courage. Stand for decency.
Go for it all of you – rip this to shreds and go back to your depraved darkness.
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