Rhode Island's General Assembly has overridden the veto of legislation providing the domestic partners of public employees with the same pension and retirement benefits as spouses. It was one of nearly three-dozen vetoes lawmakers overturned in a one-day special session.
When he rejected the domestic partner bill Gov. Don Carcieri said the public did not want "unwarranted and unnecessary expansions of state employee benefits."
The legislation includes all employees with pensions managed through the Employee Retirement System of RI – teachers, judges, and other state and municipal employees. To qualify, partners must have lived together for one year and be financially interdependent.
"With this override, the General Assembly has sent a clear message: all public employees should be treated fairly, and deserve equal benefits for equal work," said Jenn Steinfeld, Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Steinfeld noted, however that the bill falls far short of full marriage equality. "We encourage the General Assembly to demonstrate their concern for Rhode Island families by passing equal marriage legislation," she said.
When he rejected the domestic partner bill Gov. Don Carcieri said the public did not want "unwarranted and unnecessary expansions of state employee benefits."
The legislation includes all employees with pensions managed through the Employee Retirement System of RI – teachers, judges, and other state and municipal employees. To qualify, partners must have lived together for one year and be financially interdependent.
"With this override, the General Assembly has sent a clear message: all public employees should be treated fairly, and deserve equal benefits for equal work," said Jenn Steinfeld, Director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island. Steinfeld noted, however that the bill falls far short of full marriage equality. "We encourage the General Assembly to demonstrate their concern for Rhode Island families by passing equal marriage legislation," she said.
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