House Committee approves ‘two radical anti-gay bills’

The House Oversight, Reforms and Ethics Committee on Tuesday approved, on a party line vote, two pieces of legislation that would prohibit public employers from offering partner benefits to unmarried employees as well as prohibit unions from negotiating such benefits in contract negotiations.

The bills were passed 4 to 2, with the two Democrats — Rep. Timothy Bledsoe and Rep. Lisa Brown — casting the dissenting votes. Committee Chair Rep. Tom McMillin, joined GOP Reps. Amanda Price, Cynthia Denby and Bradford Jacobsen in approving the legislation. The bills now move to the House floor for a full vote.

The measures, introduced by Rep. Dave Agema a Republican from Grandville, come in response to Republican outrage over a January decision by the Michigan Civil Service Commission to extend health care benefits to unmarried, unrelated adults who reside with state employees. The GOP has bandied around several cost estimates of the proposal — anywhere from a couple of million dollars to $11 million. The State’s Officer the State Employer, which oversees state wages, salaries and union negotiations, was unable to clarify earlier this year how it had come upon an estimate of $6 million in costs.

Gov. Rick Snyder, citing those continually shifting costs assessments, opposed the benefits. The state Senate easily passed legislation which would have overturn the MCSC decision, but the state House was not able to muster the two-thirds vote necessary to over ride the decision.

In a press statement to the media, Equality Michigan called the bills “two radical anti-gay” pieces of legislation.

“This attack on fairness and equality is unacceptable. Representative Agema has continued his blatant and unapologetic attacks on gay and transgender Michiganders. It’s sad to see this committee supporting him. These radical bills go a long way toward harming Michigan families, businesses and unions,” said Emily Dievendorf, policy director for Equality Michigan, an LGBT advocacy group. “While these benefits are often used by both straight and gay couples, anti-gay lawmakers are specifically trying to deny gay couples the ability to care for their families. Hard-working state employees should be compensated appropriately, and that’s why these benefits are offered. Rep. Agema’s radically biased social agenda is out of touch with Michigan values.”