Last updated: Jan. 30, 2008
Efforts to secure domestic partner benefits continue
Jan. 30, 2008
Although a provision authorizing domestic partner benefits wasn’t included in last year’s final state budget, campus efforts to move the issue forward continue unabated.
A committee of faculty and staff continues to meet with legislative leadership, individual members of the legislature, UW System and Fair Wisconsin in hopes of making fresh progress.
Among the approaches being considered are standalone legislation or possible action through the administrative rule process.
Provost Patrick Farrell and Chancellor John Wiley have consistently argued that not being able to offer benefits puts UW–Madison at a competitive disadvantage with peer institutions. UW–Madison is the only Big Ten university, and one of only two universities among statutorily set peer research institutions, that does not offer domestic partner benefits.
Statements and news from UW–Madison
- Efforts for domestic partner benefits continue at budget’s final stages Oct. 12, 2007
- Domestic partner benefits issue to be resolved in conference committee July 12, 2007
- Chancellor Wiley letter to Sen. Mark Miller and Rep. Mark Pocan on domestic partner benefits July 12, 2007
- Chancellor John D. Wiley’s statement on proposed Assembly budget July 10, 2007
- Senate passes budget with domestic partner benefits June 27, 2007
- UW–Madison memo to State Senators on Domestic Partner Benefits June 14, 2007
- JFC declines to add domestic partner benefits to budget June 6, 2007
- Chancellor’s statement on JFC votes June 5, 2007
- JFC action expected June 5 June 1, 2007
- University offers domestic partner benefit update May 9, 2007
- Governors budget proposal to include domestic partner benefits Feb. 16, 2007
- Marriage amendment listening session scheduled Nov. 13, 2006
- Governor’s budget
adds funding to UW, financial aid Feb. 25, 2005
- New tuition policy
covers domestic partners, dependents Oct. 19,
2004
- Domestic partnership coverage Aug. 24, 2004
- Report calls for progress
on domestic-partner benefits May 5,
2004
- Faculty Senate supports
domestic partner benefits Oct. 22, 2002
- Limited partner benefits
finalized May 15, 2002
Legislative and Legal Documents
- UW–Madison Domestic Partner Benefits Position Paper, UW–Madison State Relations (PDF) May 14, 2007
- Finance Co-Chairs Announce Cities for Public Hearings (PDF) Committee on Joint Finance, Feb. 15, 2007
- Legislative path for domestic partner benefits for UW employees (PDF) UW–Madison State Relations, January 2007
- Wisconsin attorney general’s opinion on domestic partner benefits (PDF)
- Legislative Council memo on legal ramifications of marriage amendment proposal to unmarried persons (PDF) Feb. 24, 2006
- Legislative Council Memo on domestic partner benefits (PDF) Feb. 24, 2006
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo on health insurance coverage for domestic partners of state employees (PDF) May 23, 2005
- Legislative Council memo on interpretation of marriage amendment proposal (PDF) Jan. 29, 2004
- Big Ten Universities and Domestic Partner Policies
Questions?
Laurie Beth Clark
Vice Provost for
Faculty and Staff Programs
(608) 262-1304
DPbenefits@provost.wisc.edu
Domestic Partner Benefits in the News
- A
Way to Keep Domestic Partner Benefits Inside Higher Ed,
June 15
- UW
System funding and benefits should be ‘no-brainers’ but aren’t Spooner
Advocate, June 13
- Huebsch
Opposes Partner Benefits For Partners of State Employees NewsTalk
1410 — La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 7
- UW
faculty continue push for domestic partner benefits Wisconsin
Radio Network,
June 6
- Budget committee votes down plan to offer domestic partner benefits Associated Press, June 5
- Benefits could reappear in state budget The
Badger Herald, Apr. 27
- Benefits plan out of budget The
Badger Herald, Apr. 23
- Editorial:
Significant benefits The
Badger Herald, Apr. 12
- Editorial:
Civil rights extend beyond whims of misguided majority The
Badger Herald, Apr. 11
- Editorial:
UW must invest in partner benefits The
Badger Herald, Apr. 10
- La
Crosse County OKs domestic partner benefits LA Crosse Tribune,
Apr. 10
- UW
System makes case for partner benefits Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Mar. 22
- Monona
OKs partner benefits for some staff The Capital Times, Mar.
20
- A battle for benefits The Indianapolis Star, Mar. 19
- Editorial: The people’s will ought to prevail Beloit Daily News, Mar. 1
- City rejects union grievance on partner benefits AP, Feb. 28
- Doyle backs gay benefits Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 28
- Wis. court to take up domestic partner benefits case AP, Feb. 21
- Editorial: Let state insure domestic partners Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 16
- Employers in Wisconsin Offering Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefits Fair Wisconsin News Release, Feb. 15
- PROFS, Inc. Domestic Partner Statement (PDF) PROFS News Release, Feb. 12
- Gov seeks partner benefits The Capital Times, Feb. 12
- Defeat
for Same-Sex Benefits Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 5
- Domestic
partnership bill considered Washington State AP, Jan.
26
- Monona
eyes health benefit for partners Capital Times, Jan.
25
- 70
of top 100 best companies to work for offer partner benefits Fortune,
Jan. 15
- UK
domestic partner health benefits backed Louisville Courier-Journal,
Jan. 13
- UK
closer to partner benefits Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan.
13
- Equal
benefits work in corporate America Wilmington News-Journal,
Jan. 5
- AG:
Same-sex couple benefits ok AP, Dec. 29, 2006
- AG:
Partner benefits safe despite ban The Capital Times,
Dec. 28, 2006
- Gay
staff, faculty talk of leaving UW AP, Nov. 16, 2006
- Corporate
America backs gay rights Fortune, Sept. 20, 2006
- Editorial:
UW still needs partner benefits Wisconsin State Journal,
Aug. 30, 2006
- Researcher quits UW, cites partner benefits Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 24, 2006