Morris extends
benefits to gays
Measure passes with
little fanfare
BY LAWRENCE RAGONESE,
Star-Ledger (nj.com) from the Web, March 1, 2006
Same-sex-partner health and pension
benefits have been approved for county government workers in Morris County, in
two measures quietly passed in a unanimous vote of the all-Republican freeholder
board.
It makes Morris the 10th county in the state to extend health and pension
benefits to the registered domestic partners of county employees.
Two resolutions -- one for health benefits and one for pensions -- were adopted
in late January, without public discussion by the freeholders and without
pressure put on them to pass such a measure. They passed with no fanfare
in a seemingly routine voice vote on a package of 34 resolutions on various
issues.
"This is not county government taking a political stand on the issue," said
Deputy Freeholder Director John Inglesino. "We considered this in a
practical way, protecting our residents from potential future lawsuits and
dealing with real issues that face society today."
Freeholder John Murphy said it was an effort by the county to tackle the issue
before it became controversial.
"We didn't want this to become a straight versus gay issue," said Murphy.
"When you strip away the emotion and look at it for what it is, you have a
health and pension issue for some of our workers, and one that's based on a
state law."
In 2004, the Legislature passed the Domestic Partners Act. It extended
benefits to the domestic partners of state workers, though the law did not
mandate towns and counties follow suit.
In Ocean County, a pitched battle occurred. The freeholders only voted for same
sex benefits
In addition to Morris and Ocean counties, some form of domestic partner benefits
have been approved by Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Union, Passaic, Camden and
Monmouth counties.
"We saw how the issue was evolving around the state. After some brief
discussions we decided to move on the issue," said County Administrator John
Bonanni. "We felt it was the right thing to do."
Bonanni said the changes in county government benefit policies would have
minimal impact on the county's budget.
Lawrence Ragonese can be reached at lragonese@starledger.com
or (973) 539-7910.
(Abridged)
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