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Commission To Discuss Benefits For Domestic Partners

Tribune file photo by JULIE BUSCH

Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who was elected in November, asked that the matter be placed on Thursday's agenda.

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

TAMPA - A crowd is expected Thursday when the Hillsborough County Commission discusses providing health care benefits to domestic partners of county employees.

Members of gay and lesbian organizations say they will pack the commission chambers to speak in favor of providing the benefits. Conservative groups also are expected to show up in force.

"That isn't a gay issue; it's a rights issue for everybody involved," said Zeke Fread, director of Pride Tampa Bay, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.

Fread and other supporters of domestic partner health care coverage say the majority of employees who would benefit are heterosexual.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who was elected in November, asked that the matter be placed on the Thursday agenda.

Beckner, the commission's first openly gay member, said most Fortune 500 companies offer the benefits. Studies show that doing so contributes little or no cost to the insurance program, Beckner said.

County Administrator Pat Bean said last week she thought such as extension of the benefits would add to the county's health care costs, but did not know by how much.

The commission last addressed the issue in 2004, shortly after Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio signed an order extending health benefits to unmarried partners of city employees. Led by former conservative Commissioner Ronda Storms, the commission voted 4-3 to instruct the county administrator not to pursue the issue.

Beckner is asking commissioners to lift the ban on pursuing the issue so it can be debated.

A vote on whether to offer the benefits will not be taken Thursday.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Fred. B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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