Today the House-Senate Conference Committee on HB 117 and HB 118. The Senators delivered to the House data on insurance and taxation consequences of proposed DP benefits (called "reciprocal beneficiary" benefits in HB 118).
The net effect of extending income-tax deductions to same-gender partners: a net GAIN of a few $100,000's to the state (due to the built-in "marriage penalties"). The story was similar for the effects of extending health benefits -- very slight effects and possible savings to the state and employers.
The Conference Committee then adjourned until Wednesday, March 19.
Best Regards,
Tom Ramsey
Ex-Officio, Marriage Project - Hawaii
President, Friends of h.e.r.m.p
P.S. Marriage Project - Hawaii, formerly h.e.r.m.p, is the ONLY
organization which is paying the fees of Dan Foley in the court case Baehr
v. Miike. All donations to it are fully tax-deductible, and may be
sent to:
Marriage Project - Hawaii
PO Box 11690
Honolulu, HI 96828
Please be generous!
A new T-shirt is now available; please contact skippero@aol.com
Here are some useful web sites for information
on same-gender marriage and related issues: valuable
links.