(MADISON) UW-Madison officials say Wisconsinâ??s recent approval of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage should not affect efforts to get domestic partner benefits for state employees.
The proposal is included in Governor Jim Doyleâ??s budget. Even if it doesnâ??t encounter court obstacles, the expansion of health insurance benefits is expected to face opposition in the Republican-controlled Assembly.
Proponents of the plan say campuses need to offer such benefits to be competitive. Charles Hoornstra is Director of Legal Services at UW-Madison. He says the UW is the only Big 10 university that doesnâ??t have the benefits, which puts it at a disadvantage in competing for faculty who are skillful people and otherwise would like to come here, but donâ??t.