11/08/2009
Health Care Bill Provision Would Fix Unjust Tax Laws for Gays
The NYT makes note of a provision in the health care bill proposed by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) which would correct unjust tax laws for domestic partners:
"Supporters of gay rights have long been trying to change the tax
treatment of health benefits provided by employers to the domestic
partners of their employees. In effect, such benefits are now treated
as taxable income for the employee, and the employer may owe payroll taxes on their fair-market value. Under
the bill, such benefits would be tax-free, just like health benefits
provided to the family of an employee married to a person of the
opposite sex. Representative Jim McDermott, Democrat of
Washington, who proposed the change, said it would 'correct a
longstanding injustice, end a blatant inequity in the tax code and help
make health care coverage more affordable for more Americans.' Joseph R. Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay
rights advocacy group, said federal tax law had not kept up with
changes in the workplace. 'I meet people all the time who are
gratified they work for companies that offer domestic partner
benefits,' he said. 'But they pass on the benefits because they cannot
afford the taxes that go with the benefits.'"
HRC Back Story makes note of several other LGBT-related provisions in the health care bill.
After passing the House on a 220-215 vote (chart) over the weekend, the bill now heads to the Senate where it faces as tough, if not tougher, a battle as it did in the House.
Posted 8:15 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Health, News |
Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Post a comment
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Sp proud, Rep McDermott represents me here in Lake Forest Park in north Seattle. I believe in him and so glad I live in his district.
Posted by: Joshua | Nov 8, 2009 10:26:23 PM
As I said upon hearing news of ENDA moving through Congress a mere week after hate crimes was signed and the HIV travel ban being lifted, there are strange emanations coming from the Democrats lately.
For once, they're actually not sacrificing everything liberals hold dear at the altar of bipartisanship. If they keep this up, we might actually have to thank them. That would be an awkward - though welcomed - change indeed.
Posted by: John | Nov 8, 2009 11:05:12 PM
@ JOSHUA—Same here in Seattle. We love our Jim McD!
Posted by: David R. | Nov 9, 2009 12:21:04 AM
Speaking of injustice, can someone email the Philly tourist office (I couldn't) to let them know that we're not an "alternative lifestyle" as their LGBT section on their touchscreens say we are? If this is supposedly a major city that's trying to court gay people, then I don't think it's helpful--indeed, bad--to label us as not of the norm. Thanks guys. Just another step towards people treating us equally that's needed even here in a supposedly gay friendly city.
Posted by: Randy | Nov 9, 2009 3:04:21 AM
Thanks Jim! Just another reason I live in Seattle... guys like Jim are on our side!
Posted by: GW | Nov 9, 2009 8:19:34 AM
@ John: strange emanations? Look, I'm not a Democratic partisan, but for goodness sakes the HIV travel ban restrictions and Hate Crimes passed under a Democratic president and a Democratic congress. A Health Care bill with these tax provisions passed with 1 Repub vote.
I just don't get this need on the part of so many gay people to constantly slam or be so unsupportive of Democrats when the biggest legislative victory gay people have ever had has come under Democratic control.
The support for Dems is so lukewarm among gays that I really wonder what is going to happen during the next election. If the Repubs get back in control, almost everything that is important to gays is dead on arrival.
Posted by: BMF | Nov 9, 2009 9:14:24 AM
OK, I finally have a reason to support the healthcare reform package if this is included.
Posted by: Pender | Nov 9, 2009 11:32:58 AM
FINALLY! The unfair tax on health benefits costs me and my husband thousands each year. I sincerely hope this makes it into the final bill. It will make a big difference to gay and lesbian couples everywhere. If Joe Solomonese "meets people all the time"...what has he done about it? Why do so many gay people not even know about this "gay tax"?
Posted by: Jeffrey | Nov 9, 2009 11:40:47 AM
The problem with the Democrats isn't their liberal philosophy. It is that half of them don't even believe in their liberal philosophy. They just don't stand up for it.
LGBT critics are wrong to say that they're being singled out though. Actually, that's not true. The Democrats can't deliver for any of their constituencies in a timely manner. It took them years and several high profile assassinations to even pass the Civil Rights Act.
Say what you will about the Republicans, they actually believe in their platform. Of course, the GOP platform is racist, homophobic, religious fundamentalist drivel. But they're always on the same page and voting with near unanimity.
If you were living in California during the Prop. 8 fiasco, you will no doubt remember Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, and Diane Feinstein all dithering about trying to find novel ways to oppose the proposition without actually saying, unequivocally, that they are for same-sex marriage. They do exactly the same song and dance whenever immigration, racial profiling, or any other "controversial" comes up. Meanwhile the Republicans are out there screaming "Fags can't Marry!" into the microphone.
One side has believers.
The other has doubters.
Posted by: John | Nov 9, 2009 12:03:36 PM