Urge Feds to Approve Domestic Partner Bill That Includes Gays
By ARI PAUL
The U.S. Senate is considering legislation to grant benefits to the domestic partners of Federal employees, which would include same-sex partners.

COLLEEN M. KELLEY: Feds trailing private sector.

Asserting that more than half of the Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits, National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen M. Kelley urged the Federal Government to follow the lead of the private sector.

'Feds At Disadvantage'

In testimony Sept. 24 supporting the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, she said, "The Federal Government is no longer in the forefront, but is behind. Market forces and the good example of the private sector now put this issue before the Federal sector."

She argued that the lack of such a benefits plan was encouraging Federal workers to move into the private sector.

"Given this reality, it is simply unacceptable that the Federal Government does not offer benefits equal to or better than the private firms the government is competing with," Ms. Kelley said.

The Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based gay and lesbian advocacy group, also supported the measure.

"By offering domestic partnership benefits, the Federal Government would not only improve the quality of its workforce, but also demonstrate its commitment to fairness and equality for all Americans," it said in a statement. "Benefits comprise a significant portion of all employee compensation. By not offering domestic partnership benefits to its employees, the Federal Government is not providing equal pay for the equal work of these employees."