Congressional Budget Office estimates “Domestic Partners” Act: 10 years = $898 million
H.R. 2517 would make same-sex domestic partners of certain federal employees (both current and retired) eligible to receive the same employment benefits as married spouses of federal employees. Those benefits include health insurance, survivor annuities, compensation for work-related injuries and travel and relocation benefits that affect the federal budget, as well as other benefits that do not have an impact on the budget, such as life insurance and vision and dental benefits. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 2517 would increase direct spending by $596 million through 2019, and that enacting the bill would not have any direct impact on federal revenues. Over the same period, CBO estimates that discretionary spending would also increase, by $302 million, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. Providing additional health insurance benefits through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program causes the largest increase in both mandatory and discretionary spending–$590 million and $266 million, respectively.
Part of the opening summary of an estimate released by the CBO regarding the proposed “Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.” The bill would move toward equal family benefits for unmarried same-sex couples since the Defense of Marriage Act expressly prohibits the Federal Government from recognizing gay men and lesbians as being legally married. Representative Tammy Baldwin is the chief proponent of the bill which recently moved forward as it passed both House and Senate committees. (CBO)
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