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Mayor signs off on domestic-partner ordinance

IBJ Staff
August 23, 2012
Keywords
City Government, City-County Council, Government, Government & Economic Development, Greg Ballard, Health Care & Insurance, Health Care & Life Sciences, Insurance, Insurance Benefits, Local Government, Workplace Issues
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Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Thursday afternoon signed off on a proposal to provide health-care benefits to the domestic partners of city workers.

The Indianapolis City-County Council approved the proposal, 20-8, on Aug. 13.

The ordinance offers insurance coverage to both same-sex and heterosexual unmarried couples. Supporters say offering domestic-partner benefits will improve the city's image with many companies already providing such coverage.

The cities of Bloomington and Carmel and some of Indiana's universities provide benefits for employees' same-sex partners.

Council opponents raised concerns about the estimated $200,000 annual cost for the city and moral implications.

Ballard didn’t officially acknowledge the signing of the domestic-partner ordinance. But he posted on his Twitter account Thursday that “I just signed all 33 ordinances and resolutions passed last week by the City-County Council.”

Among those was the so-caled "Complete Streets" proposal, which calls for future design of city roads to be more friendly to pedestrians and bikes.



 

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  • Joyce, You're Off Topic
    ChrisAugust 24, 2012 10:02 PM
    Joyce, first, it is a CHOICE to have children, so I am not sure what your comment is about "lifestyle choice?" Second, both the federal government and Indiana allow you to claim tax benefit for dependents, and this can include adults individuals that meet the dependent test. So, if your unemployed adult children meet the legal test to qualify as a dependent, then you already get a "break" when you claim them on your tax return. Also, as already noted by another poster, the revised federal law ("Obamacare") allows you to keep your adult children on your health insurance up to the age of 26. In addition, anyone who loses their job and who has earned at least $1,650 in the last 6 months before losing their job, either through being laid off or even being fired--provided they did not engage in misconduct--is eligible to receive unemployment benefits while they search for another job. Finally, this domestic partner health insurance benefit is a city ordinance that addresses only city employees. Basically, the domestic partner benefits are simply an additional form of compensation, and the benefits are similar to those offered by many private employers and also various other municipal governments in Indiana, and also by other states to their workers. In short, the ordinance is not intended to provide general relief to unemployed individuals, rather it is an earned benefit by a city employee.
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  • Choices?
    BrianAugust 24, 2012 8:08 AM
    Joyce - You may have missed this in the news, but "Obamacare" allows you to carry your uninsured adult children on your policy until age 26. As for being able to claim them as a dependent, there are IRS rules that make it possible to do so. Neither of your concerns are issues that can be addressed by the city.
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  • ok
    ericAugust 23, 2012 9:06 PM
    having kids is a LIFESTYLE CHOICE, being born gay or straight is not
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Congrats Indy!
    AdamAugust 23, 2012 4:54 PM
    "Complete Streets" was desperately need. Good to see a Republican put partisanship aside.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Benefits....
    Joyce LeisureAugust 23, 2012 4:37 PM
    How about giving a break like this to parents who support unemployed young adults. A college degree doesn't guarantee a job. Parents should be able to carry these young people on their insurance and claim tax exemption, too. This vote supports a life-style CHOICE. Many people are not CHOOSING to be unemployed, yet can't afford health insurance.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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