Employee contracts may have domestic partner benefits

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Same-sex domestic partner health benefits are in play as part of Minnesota state employee contract talks, reopening a debate that raged at the Capitol a decade ago.

Republican lawmakers drew attention to the potential contract language last week by circulating an offer sheet between Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration and the largest public employee union. The proposed two-year pacts haven’t been finalized, but the benefits were part of the “state’s best offer” put before the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

AFSCME and the administration are headed for mediation, because the union objected to increases in insurance premiums and other provisions contained in the offer.

Inclusion of medical and dental benefits for same-sex partners of state workers could leave the negotiated deal in doubt once it moves to the ratification stage, which involves the GOP-led Legislature. When Gov. Jesse Ventura, an independent, was in office, domestic partner benefits for state workers were added to contracts negotiated by his administration and were briefly implemented. But by the time those deals were ratified, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty was in charge and same-sex benefits had been stripped out.

Under the proposed language, same-sex domestic partners would be treated as dependents and would be eligible for family insurance coverage.