By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI – At the state Capitol, GOP leaders are trying to recruit Democrats to vote against allowing state workers to claim their live-in partners on their employee benefits. That allows state workers in same-sex relationships to ensure their partners and families are covered despite the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
A test vote taken just before the Legislature's spring break failed. But this week lawmakers are back. GOP leaders say they want to reverse contracts approved by the state Civil Service Commission that will allow live-in partner benefits. But that requires a two-thirds super-majority in the House. Republicans don't have the votes on their own to do that, says House Speaker Jase Bolger.
"We're still looking to the Democrats to step forward and do the right thing for the Michigan taxpayer,"Bolger says. "The Legislature is within its authority to reverse that decision and we have to have 11 Democrats step forward and have the courage to do so."
But Democratic leaders say they won't put up the votes to help House Republicans go back on what was promised to state workers. The House Democratic leader says this issue was fairly negotiated during contract talks with state employee unions.