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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2006)
12 JUStjOUt APRIL 7. 2006__________________ northwest Town Hall Debates Equal Benefits Commissioner argues ordinance would benefit partners and families by Jack Turteltaub ome attending a town hall meeting March 23 dedicated to Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams’ proposed equal benefits ordinance viewed it as a HBF debate between advancing the city’s anti discrimination agenda and shaking Portland’s anti business reputation. If the equal benefits ordinance passes, the same- sex partner and family of a city contractor could receive health care and other benefits as early as January 2007. The ordinance would require private businesses in construction, professional and techni cal fields that contract with the city to provide the same benefits to .domestic partners and their fami lies that they provide to married employees and their families. With more than $300 million in annual city contracts, the impact on straight, unmarried cou ples and sexual minorities, whose relationships are jiot legally recognized, could be significant. “All of society benefits when two people decide to make a life together,” said Adams. “Unfortunately, the federal government places families in two cate gories: those headed by a married couple and those not headed by a married couple. The latter are treat ed as second-class citizens.” Portland would be the first jurisdiction in Oregon to pass an equal benefits ordinance. Jesse Beast^n, Adams' senior policy director, says the city wants to work closely with contractors and insurers to implement the ordinance in a way that does not create unnecessary burdens for businesses. Some critics say Portland is already perceived as anti-business, so they believe the ordinance might add to that reputation. Advocates argue that the ordinance would increase the overall quality of life, create more equality of treatment for workers and might even encourage some health insurers and private compa nies to provide such benefits if they are not already doing so. All these factors could add to Portland’s fabled “livability.” Adams notes that cities that strive to provide equal benefits to all families are perceived as more welcoming and in turn are more likely to draw “the best and the brightest.” Adams observes that in recent years Portland has attracted many people in their 20s and early 30s who are artists, musicians, technophiles and entre preneurs, in large part due to the city’s reputation as tolerant and supportive of diversity. The town hall meeting was the city’s first public forum to discuss the ordinance. Most of the 15 atten dees represented health insurers or contractors. Adams told participants that five of the eight largest health insurers in the state already provide domestic partner coverage to most large companies that carry their policies. According to Adams, the city is in negotiations with two of the remaining insurers, including Kaiser Permanente, to add domes tic partner benefits. The cost of the added benefits, Adams argued, would he relatively small. The tradeoff, he asserted, is the basic fairness of the ordinance and how it would advance the Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams discusses the ordi city’s nondiscrimination agenda nance with senior policy director Jesse Beason. and provide more health care to would be applied. “The question I have is: Does this people in need. ordinance cover all the businesses that contract The discussion was cordial and lacking in any with the city? I think our members won’t have a dramatic gestures. Ironically, there was no direct problem as long as everybody has to follow the mention of gay rights. same rules.” Sharon Nielson, a member of the city’s Small Adams explained that the city by law can only Business Advisory Council, said she likes the con enforce ordinances with prime contractors, not sub cept of the ordinance hut told Adams, “1 don’t want this perceived hy some as another barrier to contractors that are hired by the former. Adams, a fervent supporter of queer rights, reg small businesses doing business with the city.” As a istered an acute awareness of recent reverses for business owner with only one employee, she is con cerned about reinforcing the city’s recent efforts to Oregon’s sexual minority population. “It’s been a tough 18 to 24 months for the gay community with improve its relationship with small businesses, the passage of Measure 36, the rejection of civil including those bidding on public contracts. unions and gay marriages. On the city level, this Bill Martinak, president of the Oregon and ordinance is something we can do.’ © Southwest Washington chapter of the National Utility Contractors Association, the trade associa J ack T urteltaub is a Portland free-lance writer tion for those who lay sewer pipes and power lines, and psychotherapist. was concerned about how fairly the ordinance Wentworth SubaruCity Are you upside down in your trade? Do you owe more on your trade than it's worth? CALL WENTWORTH SUBARU TO SEE WHAT WE CAN C BRAND NEW FACILITY ♦ 6 ACRES OF SELECTION Toll free (866)508'2389 East End of the Burnside Bridge 400 E. Burnside Pictures for illustration purposes only. Rebates in lieu of special financing Subject to prior sale On approved credit 100s of Subarus in Stocks Great Rates Easy Financing Low Payments Think. Feel. Drive.
