Same-sex benefits costing state all of $600,000

For the last 11 years, Michael Todd ofEast Lansing and his partner have lived as a married couple. They wentthrough their own personal ceremony. They exchanged rings. Bought ahouse. Been involved in the community. All of that.

So when Todd’s partner, a stateemployee, was allowed to put Todd on his health insurance, as part of aCivil Service Commission decision earlier this year, the couple didn’tfeel guilty doing so.

If the state had allowed them toformalize their union in a state-recognized ceremony, they would havedone it. And if the opposite sex spouse of a state employee is allowedto receive state health benefits, why not a same sex spouse?

Unfortunately, Todd is in a position where he needs the help.

The 40-year-old was diagnosed years agowith multiple sclerosis and now is unable to work. Before being put onhis partner’s benefits, Todd had his health care costs covered byMedicare.

But under the state’s health plan, theprescription drug coverage is better, the co-pays are lower and thebenefits, all around, are better.

Todd’s been able to be on the plan starting Oct. 1. Neither he, nor anyone else, knows how long he’ll be able to stay.

He’s aware of HB 4770, which passed thestate House last month 64-44. It would ban the state or any otherpublic employer from offering benefits to same-sex or opposite-sexlive-in couples who are not married. The bill now sits in the Senate,where its passage in the Republican-controlled body is likely.

Todd is wishing that Gov. Rick Snyder declines to sign it, but he doesn’t have his hopes up.

"The governor ran on a platform of not dwelling on social issues, which is why he should be vetoing this," Todd said.

Originally, the Republicans pushed arepeal of the CSC’s decision based on the cost argument. The Snyderadministration claimed extending the benefits would cost the state $6million. Then the cost estimate inflated to $8 million. Then $10million — far too much for the cash-strapped state, as the argumentwent.

All of these estimates are turning outto be wildly too high. State Personnel Director Jeremy Stephens toldthe CSC last month that preliminary numbers show fewer than 100 peoplewithin the state’s 47,692-member workforce taking advantage of thebenefits for a total cost to the state of $600,000.

Not all live-in partners have adisabling condition like Todd. But it’s slightly ironic to note thatwhether Todd is on his partner’s insurance or on Medicare, the publicis helping him with his health care benefits either way.

The revelation has conservativeRepublicans pivoting back to the "constitutional argument," that whenMichigan voters in 2004 opted to define marriage as being between oneman and one woman that this meant public entities couldn’t offerbenefits to the live-in partner of an unmarried public employee.

Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, sponsorof HB 4770, told the newsletter earlier this year that regardless ofwhere the final numbers turn at, the ban on same-sex benefits is a"matter of law," which makes the need for a new law even more of ahead-scratcher.

Todd isn’t a full-time political activist, but he’s astute enough to see through the flimsy arguments.

"It’s more of a mean-spirited policy they’re just trying to push through," he said.

For as much as Snyder talked during hisState of the State speech about Michigan being more accepting toimmigrants, it’s another piece of irony that the welcome mat is yankeddepending on the sexual orientation of a public employee’s cohabitant.

HB 4770 doesn’t impact the living arrangements for Todd and his partner. They’re going to stay in Michigan either way.

But what about the university professorsor other high-profile talent our universities, schools and cities arechasing away? At a time when Snyder wants us to reinvent Michigan, whyare the blueprints excluding anybody? 

All of the arguments for HB 4770 aremade of straw. The cost numbers don’t add up. The legal argumentdoesn’t add up … a new law wouldn’t be needed if it did. 

Discriminating against couples based ontheir sexual orientation doesn’t make Michigan more competitiveeconomically because by definition it repels, not invites, more people.Gays and lesbians happen to be the tolerably discriminated-againstclass of our times, like blacks, women, Jews, Irish, American Indians,disabled and others before them.

Reasons to support 4770 seem to bedrifting away with the autumn breeze. But that doesn’t seem to matterin today’s conservative environment, which is why Todd is hoping hisnew benefits doesn’t blow away, too.