February 23
...serving up your daily dish.
Only a few days following Baristaville's own gay marriage rally in Montclair, County Executive Joey DiVincenzo has made good on his promise to recognize gay partners of county employees for benefit eligibility, today's Star Ledger reports.
Essex County last night became the ninth New Jersey county to extend benefits to the domestic partners of its employees, joining a statewide trend recognizing the rights of gay couples.
In a unanimous vote, the nine-member freeholder board upheld a promise made by County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. at his State of the County address last month, when he first proposed extending health and pension benefits to the registered domestic partners of all county employees.
February 23, 2006 in Current Affairs | Permalink
Good news. Another promise kept by Joe D. I'm glad Essex County has done the right thing.
Posted by: mauigirl52 | Feb 23, 2006 7:39:16 PM
This is good news. In recognizing and supporting the fundamental needs and rights of gay couples, our whole community is strengthened in many ways.
Posted by: i'm fran, dammit | Feb 24, 2006 2:26:34 AM
Iceman,
You know that Butchie no longer resides in Essex County. She's packed her whiny bag and gone East
Posted by: silly willie | Feb 24, 2006 4:27:22 AM
silly,
i know that's why i wrote that post...she moved to the great metropolis known as jersey city
Posted by: The Iceman(*8T*) | Feb 24, 2006 8:34:21 AM
It should get interesting around tax time in 2006.
Federal law does not recognize spousal benefit coverage for other than M-F legally married couples, which means that the cost of the benefit becomes taxable income for the receiving party.
The imputed income would seem to be the employer payment amount, but some argue it would be the cost of comparable coverage purchased on your own. I'm guessing some employers will put the $6,000 to $8,000 medical benefit as a non-cash benefit item on the employee's W-2 and not withold against it
In MA, you're married for state purposes, but single for federal purposes, which should create some doozy tax audits.
Posted by: Paul from OB | Feb 24, 2006 5:26:11 PM
I don't think so...the whining has lowered by quite a few decibels. I appreciate the quiet.
Posted by: silly willie | Feb 25, 2006 12:27:15 PM
SW....You've got a long way to go to fill Butch's shoes....>(;0})8==
Posted by: PAZ (AMiL) | Feb 25, 2006 10:50:26 PM
(S)PAZ
I don't want to fill her shoes or her jock #:>}
Posted by: silly willie | Feb 25, 2006 11:18:32 PM
