Federal DP Bill Estimated at $101 Mil by 2015

The Congressional Budget Office says that allowing some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees would require $101 million in spending from 2010 to 2015 and $310 million through 2020, not having "any direct impact on federal revenues."

The office's report estimates that about 0.33% of federal employees would identify their same-sex partner if given the opportunity.

"That figure is based on information previously gathered from state and local governments as well as more recent research on the experience of organizations that have adopted similar policies," the report reads. Legislation to provide the benefits is under consideration in Congress.

According to the report, partners of federal employees would have access to "health insurance, survivor annuities, compensation for work-related injuries and travel and relocation benefits that affect the federal budget, as well as other benefits that do not have an impact on the budget, such as life insurance and vision and dental benefits."

Some reporters were told that the Office of Personnel Management was planning to allocate funding to offset the price tag of this provision, but it was not specified where the allocation was being diverted from, or whether it would cover the entire cost.