Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 03:56:21 PM EST
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| Four days ago, jmelli reported in these pages that Essex County may become the ninth New Jersey county to pass domestic partner benefits laws. Although it had appeared hopeful that such laws might pass in Atlantic County, passage of such a law is now doubtful. On January 25, jmelli reported that the freeholders of Atlantic County were being pressured by a right-wing hate group to reject domestic partner benefits. Now there is a report at pressofAtlanticCity.com that the proposed law has been split into two pieces. |
| DBK :: Atlantic County Freeholders Split Proposed Domestic Partner Benefits Law in Two |
The Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders will now consider the proposal as two separate pieces of legislation: One would involve pensions and the other would involve health benefits.
Freeholder Chairman Joseph Silipena said the decision was made to split the original legislation in two in hopes of getting some of it put into law.
I have been unable to find out where Chairman Silipena stands on the new law, though his statement indicates he favors it. Either way, domestic partner benefits appear to be in danger of not passing in Atlantic County. Now that the high-profile case of Laurel Hester has faded from the news, counties can vote down proposed domestic partner benefits in stealth. It is important that they know that people are still paying attention.
One problem I find with this proposed legislation is that it not only "requires employees to show proof that they are registered under the Domestic Partnership Act", which is fair, but also requires "the employees to prove they share a home and bank account". Is Atlantic County requiring that of married couples? If not, they have no business requiring it of duly registered domestic partners. |
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