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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 2, 2009
Equality Maryland Praises Governor O'Malley for Proposing Increased Health Care Access for State Workers
Extending Domestic Partner Benefits Considered Smart Business in Public and Private Sectors
CONTACT:
Kate Runyon, Executive Director
Cell: 410 585-4107
Annapolis, Md. - Equality Maryland praised Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley for proposing health, dental and prescription drug benefits to state employees' domestic partners and their dependents in his Fiscal Year 2010 budget. Once enacted, Maryland will join fifteen other states and the District of Columbia in offering health benefits to state employees, as well as the majority of Fortune 1,000 companies, 8,600 for-profit employers, and 300 higher education institutions. The State will make the same contribution as they do toward spouses.
"This opportunity to expand health care will only require a minimal state investment, since Maryland can expect a less than 1% increase in enrollment, based upon other states' experiences," said Executive Director Kate Runyon. "While Maryland's investment will be small, it will have a huge impact on the health of many state employees who have been struggling to make ends meet and find quality, affordable care for their families."
Policies for equal compensation and benefits to public sector employees already exists in several Maryland jurisdictions, including Howard and Montgomery Counties; the cities of Baltimore, College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, and Takoma Park; and the school systems of Baltimore County and Prince George's County. Maryland-based companies that offer domestic partner benefit include Lockheed Martin, Allegheny Energy, Host Marriott, Marriott International, Sodhexo, Allfirst Financial, Goodwill Industries Intl., Northrup Grumman and Gazette Newspapers.
The Federal government may soon follow suit, since during his time in the U.S. Senate, President Barack Obama co-sponsored legislation to extend health care benefits to the domestic partners of Federal employees.
"This health care policy change is long overdue for our university system employees," said University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "The University of Maryland is one of only ten institutions in the 60-member Association of American Universities that does not offer domestic partner benefits to its faculty, and this has impacted our ability to recruit and retain the best talent. Gov. O'Malley's proposal will enable us to bridge this gap."
Governor O'Malley's proposed budget requires General Assembly approval by April 13, when the legislature adjourns for the year.
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Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.