Surprised I haven't seen this here yet. Making this short and sweet, as usual, because I'm at work.
Last night the Arizona House passed a budget bill that would eliminate the domestic partnership benefits granted to state employees last year. This appears to be another clear indicator of a state-by-state strategy to roll back benefits gained over the last few years. Three steps forward, two steps back.
From http://www.azstarnet.com/...
A provision in the state budget would legally define "dependents" of state employees who are entitled to coverage as a spouse or a child younger than 19 — or younger than 23 if a full-time student. Changing the law would override regulations adopted last year that added domestic partners and their children to the list.
The state Department of Administration says about 750 workers who have signed up for the benefits would be affected.
If you are in Arizona I urge you to call your governor as soon as possible. The Empowering Spirits Foundation released the following call to action today:
HB2641 passed the Arizona state House last night, and is on Governor Jan Brewer’s desk for her signature or veto.
Inclusion of HB2641 in the general budget seeks to eliminate the domestic partner benefits granted to state employees last year, along with deep education cuts and other budget items.
The last chance to protect benefits for state employees is to Contact Governor Brewer RIGHT NOW!
Contact Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and ask her to veto the budget bills. Call her at (602) 542-4331 or toll free at 1-(800) 253-0883.
You can email Governor Brewer by clicking on http://azgovernor.gov/... and filling out the online form.
From http://www.facebook.com/... . Join them if you're on Facebook.
UPDATE: By the way, if anyone wants to take this news and flesh it out into a bigger diary feel free. More info can be found in this article, which seems to imply the bill has passed not only the house but also the senate, meaning it is indeed on the governor's desk, waiting...