June 6, 2007
JFC declines to add domestic partner benefits to budget
In legislative action Tuesday, June 5, the Joint Finance Committee opted not to add domestic partner health care benefits to the next state budget.
Representative Mark Pocan and Senator Russ Decker moved to approve the recommendation of Governor Jim Doyle to provide benefits. However, the motion failed along party lines, 8-8, and current law stands.
The action does not preclude benefits from ending up in the final budget. After the JFC completes its work, the budget will be acted upon separately by both the state Assembly and Senate, and then considered by a conference committee made up of members from the two legislative houses.
The domestic partner benefit provision can still be re-included into the budget at later stages of the process.
“We want to offer our appreciation to those who have supported domestic partner benefits to this point,” says Laurie Beth Clark, vice provost for faculty and staff programs. “We remain firmly committed to this issue and will continue to communicate about why it is needed, in hopes that it will be included in the final budget.”
Should members of the campus community want to express an opinion on domestic partner benefits issue, individual contact of state legislators is encouraged, provided that it takes place on personal time, using non-university resources.
For additional information, contact UW-Madison State Relations at (608) 263-5510 or e-mail DPbenefits@provost.wisc.edu