State House OKs bill to stop employers from offering domestic partner benefits

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

Source: Detroit Free Press (www.freep.com)

Michigan cities, counties, schools, universities and the state itself would be prohibited from offering domestic partner benefits to the live-in companions of their employees under legislation narrowly approved by the state House on Thursday.

The measure would bar the employers from including domestic partner benefits as a subject of collective bargaining after the expiration of current contracts.

The legislation is largely aimed at ending the practice of extending benefits to a public employee's domestic partner.


Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20110916/NEWS15/109160427/State-House-OKs-bill-stop-employers-from-offering-domestic-partner-benefits

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Another Republican assault on workers' benefits. Gov Snyder is on a roll.

[midnight]

1. K&R

[RKP5637]

3. self delete n/t

[RKP5637]

2. One step forward for American dystopia. Americans have to get out of la la land when

they vote and dump these critters.

[Javaman]

5. most americans choose la la land...

they do that than face the reality of just how fucked up everything is.

[RKP5637]

6. Here's what I just posted on another thread, my ramblings, but

pretty much what was running around in my head as I tried to wrap my head around what is going on and taking a few Excedrin.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1948360&mesg_id=1949941

[Javaman]

9. Good Post!

I share your sentiments.

I'm currently putting together a book. At the moment, it's loosely titled, "Embracing Stupid". While the title suggests a sort of tongue in cheek look at our current situation, in regards to society, I'm seeking a sort of velvet hammer approach in my opinions.

With the recent pronouncement by perry stating, "I'm anti-intellectual", to me, has such far reaching implications that it scares the hell out of me.

While he makes his business with ridiculous rhetoric, those mouth breathing constituents that he's speaking to, believe this.

I'm currently reading a book on the "Reign of Terror" in France after their revolution. A particular group of people called "The Jacobian's", they made their bread and butter seeking out the royals and the wealthy and killing them, but some where a long the way, their "cause" becomes completely bastardized. They no longer just killed the royals and the wealthy, they began including, in their blood wrath, the educated, the merchants and anyone and all that shows any level of gain in society. Whether it's a trader who has done well on a recent exchange of goods or a farmer who suddenly had a bumper crop. They are all suspect.

Fast forward to the 1970's and you get a modern day version of The Jacobian's in the form of the khmer rouge. A group of dystopia zealots whose whole means to an end was killing any and all intellectual or any and all who gave the appearance of being an "intellectual" (killing people who wore glasses). All for the stated goal of returning to a completely agrarian society.

Are we experiencing that here today? Not by a long shot. However, while I don't like many of the policies the Obama has stood for, I am voting for him because, frankly, I honestly fear what a perry presidency will unleash. I won't be anything that he "brings to the table", it will be because the seeds are there, planted by one ridiculous reactionary repub candidate after another, they just need to be allowed to grow. If perry gets in, they will flourish.

And as a result, there will be a wave of "Jacobian-ism" here in the states that will target, liberals, intellects, etc.

I see a dismantling of the dept of education, a complete de-funding of science and research and the quixotic rush for "getting off foreign oil" by drilling our nation to death.

Sadly, nothing will be fixed until 1)corporations are held accountable 2) corporate money removed from political donations.

But like many times in history, we are no different, and I fear that we will have to get down the hell hole pretty far before the people of this nation realized just how screwed up things have gotten.

I think of that scene in the movie, "The Bridge Over The River Kwai". When Alec Guinness finally realizes how far his ego got out of hand and says, "what have I done?".

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, similar fear! "But like many times in history, we are no different, and

I fear that we will have to get down the hell hole pretty far before the people of this nation realized just how screwed up things have gotten."

A concern I have is that the technology exists today for TPTB to perpetuate keeping much of the citizenry pretty far down the hell hole possibly indefinitely. By the time some of the citizens wake up, the ladder might be gone. Also, today, people are bred to be sheep. I might be wrong here, but somehow it seems that was not as pervasive in past decades.

[Javaman]

14. Something will eventually give.

we live in a world of finite resources, at some point, it will implode no matter how hard the wealthy try.

bullets and a had of cabbage will be worth more money then all the gold.

[RKP5637]

15. Yep! I've been trying to figure out how to prepare for the eventual. I have to

admit at this stage it's a little baffling because there are so many variables. As you say, "bullets and a had of cabbage will be worth more money then all the gold."

Yes, it's the finite resources that will end it all. I often envision the 'wars of corporations' than the 'wars of countries.' Someplace I was reading about the expanding and expanding security forces of some corporations. And it seems I was reading something about Verizon having some contracts with Xe.

It's all getting a bit bizarre.

[Javaman]

16. best way to prepare is to start a garden.

things will only get worse as the extremist end of the repuke party gain more and more power.

And as always the lower classes will suffer the worst of it.

[RKP5637]

17. Good idea! n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

4. Illegal restraint of trade

barring businesses and employees from coming to terms in an employment contract.

[Tesha]

7. Nonsense. States have the power to regulate corporate behavior.

I don't like this policy either, but it will probably
stand up to any constitutional test other than "Equal
protection", and even that's a "Hail Mary" play.

Tesha

[michreject]

8. This only regulates state public sector jobs

It doesn't address the private sector, although I'm sure that somewhere down the road, it will be.

[Gman]

11. A blatant intrusion on private business, an attempt to stifle capitalism

No doubt this will be thrown out. Some companies offer benefits to cover pets. Can the state outlaw that too? No way.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Based on the headline, you're right, but in the text

the story is pretty clear that this applies to government workers. It's not directing the behavior of private sector companies.

It's a bad headline. I just copied it and pasted.

[SoapBox]

13. Talk about INTRUSIVE government!

What a joke these GOPBaggers / GOPHaters are! They stick their snout into everyone's business.

And the bill would prohibit business...from making it's own decisions????

What the hell is that all about!