http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/open-season/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:42:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/open-season/comment-page-1/#comment-3044 S1 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:12:26 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/open-season/#comment-3044 You should note that extending benefits to partners would result in a pay cut for Federal workers. Why? Married employees in the private or public sector get a tax-free benefit when they put their spouses on their insurance. But presumably gay and lesbian guvvies, like their private-sector counterparts who work for businesses who provide DP benefits, have the value of the insurance provided to the partner added to their taxable income. Needless to say, given what health insurance costs, this results in a lot of extra Federal and state income tax due -- which is, in effect, a pay cut imposed on gay and lesbian Americans. You should note that extending benefits to partners would result in a pay cut for Federal workers. Why? Married employees in the private or public sector get a tax-free benefit when they put their spouses on their insurance. But presumably gay and lesbian guvvies, like their private-sector counterparts who work for businesses who provide DP benefits, have the value of the insurance provided to the partner added to their taxable income. Needless to say, given what health insurance costs, this results in a lot of extra Federal and state income tax due — which is, in effect, a pay cut imposed on gay and lesbian Americans.

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