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Domestic partners will be required to get married to receive state health benefits under new bill

Matt Katzenberger
/
https://flic.kr/p/6zdq5u

A new bill would remove health care from domestic partners of state employees.

Supporters of the bill say the state would save one million dollars annually under the move.

Republican State Senator Rick Jones is the bill sponsor. He said the practice was enacted under Jennifer Granholm to extend benefits to same sex couples.

“She did this because at that time there was no gay marriage. Today there is gay marriage. So my bill seeks to end this practice.”

Senator Jones said living together is not a real commitment.

“It simply is not a real commitment if you just move in and live with somebody. If you decide you’re going to live together forever married then that is a different story.”

Senator Jones said, under his proposal, the children of state employees would still be covered.

He said the bill has the support of several other Senators and he is hopeful it will see passage.