Score a victory for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, whose decision to veto a measure that would lay the groundwork for granting domestic partnership benefits to county employees was sustained on a 5-2 vote by members of the Milwaukee County Board’s Personnel Committee.
However, instead of taking the position that gay marriage – or even domestic partnerships – would mean the end of civilization as we know it, Walker has hidden behind economics, arguing domestic partnership benefits for County employees would be too costly during these tough economic times. While I appreciate Scott Walker’s concern for the County’s financial bottom line, I can’t help but wonder if he’d support domestic partnership benefits for County employees once the economy improves. I’m betting Walker would find a new reason to oppose domestic partnership benefits, because Walker doesn’t strike me as the type that’s overly concerned about putting all county employees on equal footing when it comes to benefits for employees and their loved ones.
It’s important to note at issue is not the implementation of domestic partnership benefits for County employees, because the resolution itself would only determine the costs associated with implementing domestic partnership benefits, as well as other factors. In other words, it’s just a study – nothing more, nothing less. It remains to be seen if the full Board will vote to sustain Walker’s veto or not, but it’s worth noting the Board originally approved the domestic partnership measure by a 13-6 vote, but among the 13 voting in favor was Supervisor Lynn De Bruin, who was among the 5 votes against the measure in the Personnel Committee. The override vote comes up before the full board on Thursday.
Unfortunately everything Walker does now is essentially part of his campaign. Maybe the “now” is inaccurate as he has been running for quite some time, but the point remains.
Quite a contrast between Milwaukee County and Washington DC. In one we have the County Board still questioning the equal rights of domestic partners when it comes to benefits and in the other we have the City Council voting for equal marriage rights, a law that the Mayor has said he’ll sign. Which city/region is the more progressive? Which city/region recognizes that the creative class that generates energy, ideas and growth for a community includes not just church-going traditional families living in a suburb with a white picket fence and 2.02 kids, but also gay and lesbian couples in loving relationships.
Maybe all the gays and lesbians who pay Scott Walker’s and the County Board’s salaries as part of their property and sales taxes should band together and say “Enough is enough, if you want our money to clean the county courthouse toilets and your salary, you need to treat us equally.”
“Maybe all the gays and lesbians who pay Scott Walker’s and the County Board’s salaries as part of their property and sales taxes should band together and say “Enough is enough, if you want our money to clean the county courthouse toilets and your salary, you need to treat us equally.””
First class taxpayers, second class citizens.
“First class taxpayers, second class citizens.”
Ain’t that the truth….
In yet another example of how Scott Walker doesn’t get it, Mecklendburg County, NC home of Charlotte and North Carolina’s most populous county joins six other localities in NC in offering domestic partnership benefits to county employees according to qNotes – a NC publication tracking GLBT issues (http://www.q-notes.com/4607/mecklenburg-commissioners-approve-dp-benefits/).
I hate it when a Red state or Purple state jumps ahead of Wisconsin, a distinctly blue state. We’ve fallen way behind on our leading role on GLBT issues that goes back to nation’s first anti-discrimination law signed by the WI 40th Governor and GOP member Lee Dreyfus in 1982.
MCM, I share your disappointment that we’re lagging behind states that have traditionally been far less progressive, especially when it comes to equality for all our citizens.