Apr 3, 2008 9:17 pm US/Mountain
Larimer Sheriff Creates Stir Over Same Sex Benefit
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) ―
-
-
Larimer County Commissioner Randy Eubanks
CBS
Larimer County is extending health benefits to domestic partners of its employees, including same-sex partners.
It's a move county leaders hope will attract and help keep top-notch employees, but the sheriff says it is political correctness at work and it will hurt his department.
Formerly, county health benefits extended to spouses and people in a common-law marriage. Now, after a 2-1 vote by the county commission, people who work for Larimer County can get health coverage for their domestic partners.
Larimer County Commissioner Randy Eubanks is the county commissioner who proposed extending health benefits to domestic partners, which would include same-sex couples.
"There's a reason why 65 percent of the Fortune 500 companies have domestic partner benefits," Eubanks said.
"First and foremost, it was a business decision. I thought it was good to use as a recruitment tool and also to retain and attract the best and the brightest employees we could find."
Online, Sheriff Jim Alderden promptly blasted the move as Larimer County becoming more "Boulder"-ized by secular progressives.
A day later he was more reserved about the social politics side of it.
"You know, that really isn't a driving issue with me is because of the finances and the disingenuous way that this is supposed to be a benefit and attract more employees. This isn't going to attract high quality employees. If they really want to do something they need to address the retirement plan first and foremost and then the benefits," Alderen said.
The sheriff also says, and writes in his blog, that he's concerned about paying for the new benefit with a tight budget.
"I've never heard anybody bring up this issue, so to me this was just an effort on the part of the commissioners to make a politically correct statement."
Eubanks says that, beyond business, it's also more equal to offer benefits to domestic partners.
"I didn't think it was right for the government to make a decision and say OK, I recognize your freedom but I don't recognize your freedom to fall in love and have a relationship with whoever they want to."
Eubanks says the county estimates that about a dozen employees might take advantage of the benefits for domestic partners, which he says would cost the county an additional $30,000 on its $14 million health care budget.
In order to get the domestic partner benefits, Larimer County employees will have to fill out an affidavit answering questions to make sure their relationship qualifies.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments