I found an article on The Texas Tribune relating to one of my previous posts Deciding who gets insurance benefits. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote an opinion that stated local jurisdictions that offer these benefits "have created and recognized something not established by Texas law." That something he is referring to is domestic partnerships. He states that it is barred by the state constitution. Republican Rep. Drew Springer's HB 1568, has made it through house committee and is waiting to be voted on in the full chamber. This bill will revoke the authorization and withhold funding from any Texas school districts that allow their employees to add a domestic partner to their healthcare plan.
In my opinion I feel that they are saying the school districts are trying to represent marriage by allowing these benefits when I believe they are just simply deciding who gets health insurance. I mean its not like a health insurance policy is saying that these people are married! And to not fund a school simply because of who they choose to cover on their health insurance policy is absurd! As I stated in my previous post this does not only affect gay Americans, but it also affects straight families who have decided a piece of paper doesn't define their relationship. So they have to have separate health insurance because they aren't "legally married?" This is just making it harder for people who may not be able to afford paying for insurance on their own. If this bill makes it through the full chamber maybe we definitely need to amend the state constitution, but that's another whole story.
Click the link below to read more about this article:
AG: Domestic Partner Benefits Violate Constitution
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