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| quote: | Originally posted by teknotexan
OMG, thank you so much for your post in2muzikk!! I knew that the tax benefits are not equal regarding RDP's and married couples, which makes one of the only points in this issue that is devoid of religious opinions and society's steroetypes. Thanks for bring up a valid argument! Unfortunately, I cannot find any more convincing points besides this one. |
Sure, although I never meant to imply that this was the only difference between domestic partnerships and marriages. I'm not a legal expert, but just reading that article about health benefits again, there seem to be many:
Employers are not required to offer COBRA benefits -- which allow employees to stay on their employers' plans temporarily after they leave their jobs -- for domestic partners.
A 1997 study by the General Accounting Office (now known as the Government Accountability Office) found 1,049 federal laws in which marital status is a factor. They range from the obvious, such as those concerning joint tax returns, to the obscure but potentially important for certain individuals, such as in determining who gets life insurance proceeds when a federal government worker dies without specifying a beneficiary.
So, a little dated, but the GAO found 1,049 federal laws in which marital status was a factor, and marriage is defined as "only between a man and a woman" according the "Defense of Marriage Act" passed in 1996.
The taxability of health benefits jumps to the front since it's an issue that most everyone can relate to and has an immediate financial impact. Depending on one's health status, not getting COBRA benefits could be devastating to certain individuals. Having someone's life insurance proceeds go to the government rather than a partner because they didn't specify a beneficiary could be even worse.
In each of these situations, married couples are covered and domestic partners are left out in the cold. I am voting NO on Proposition 8...in about 10 minutes as a matter of fact, opening my absentee ballot now! On behalf of the minority, I thank the majority for their support. 
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Last edited by in2muzikk on Oct-20-2008 at 05:44
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