Warren: Domestic Partner Benefits a Civil Right
March 03, 2011 — In an historic and controversial move, the Michigan Senate overturned a Michigan Civil Rights Commission ruling granting domestic partner benefits to state employees. Arguing that the Commission’s ruling would cost the State $8M annually, the State Employer and Senate Republicans pushed the measure through with a 2/3 majority.
Rebekah Warren was one of just 11 who stood up against the Senate’s move.
“Do you know how many times the Legislature has overturned a Civil Rights Commission decision?” asked Warren. “Zero. Never. What we are doing here today is making history that our children will be ashamed of.”
Warren also noted that while the Republicans have long argued that government should behave more like a business, in this case Michigan was failing to follow suit with leading state and national corporations. “Big business recognized long ago that flexibility around their benefits allowed them to attract top talent,” Warren said. “The State should be serving as an example in Michigan’s recovery, ensuring that every worker’s family has the security of a dependable health care plan.”