Two U.S. senators
introduced legislation Wednesday that would end federal
tax inequities that apply to employer-provided health
insurance for domestic partners. Independent Joseph
Lieberman of Connecticut and Republican Gordon Smith
from Oregon are the Senate sponsors of the bill, a
version of which was introduced into the House in March
by Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington State.
The Tax Equity
for Domestic Partners and Health Plan Beneficiaries Act
would ensure that the value of employer-provided insurance
premiums and benefits received by employees for
coverage of their domestic partners be excluded from
taxable income. Current law exempts only coverage extended
to spouses and dependents. The law also would ease the tax
burden on employers who offer domestic-partner
benefits.
"This
legislation takes the next step to ensure that all American
workers receive equal benefits for equal work,"
Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese said in
a statement. "A majority of Fortune 500 companies,
collectively employing more than 15 million people, now
offer health care benefits for the domestic partners
of their employees. It is past time that our federal
tax code is updated to reflect the reality of what is
already happening in businesses across the country."
Log Cabin
Republicans president Patrick Sammon praised the bipartisan
move and also cited some Fortune 500 companies'
progressive steps to include all employees'
families. "For too long, the federal government
has not caught up with corporate America in providing basic
fairness for same-sex couples," Sammon said.
"This bill would bring government in line with
the majority of Fortune 500 companies, who understand the
importance of equitable treatment. We thank Sen.
Gordon Smith for introducing this important
bill." (The Advocate)
