(Dallas) DART Delays Vote on Domestic Partner Benefits After Board Members Walk Out in Protest

[TexasTowelie]

At some point, after a year-plus of hand-wringing and delays, the push for DART to offer benefits to the domestic partners of employees took on an air of inevitability. Two weeks ago, the DART board's administrative committee overwhelmingly voted to move forward with a "plus-one" plan, allowing unmarried employees to cover one unrelated adult. On Tuesday, DART's committee of the whole, comprised of all 15 board members, did the same, all but ensuring final passage at the regular DART board meeting later in the day.

But then, board members Michael Cheney and Randall Chrisman walked out, leaving the already depleted board without the 10-person quorum required to take a vote.

Chrisman, a commercial real estate broker appointed to the board by the cities of Carrollton and Irving, couched his opposition in terms of legal and financial uncertainties.

He told The Dallas Morning News that the "plus-one" police was an attempt to "get around the law" and that he's concerned about the impact of rising healthcare costs on the agency.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/09/dart_delays_decision_on_domest.php .

Cross-posted at Texas Group.

[Amimnoch]

1. Hmm, if he's REALLY concerned with the costs, perhaps he should eliminate the health care plan all

together?

Oh wait, that would infuriate all the legally married constituents.

[GeorgeGist]

2. Protesters usually standup.

[backscatter712]

3. I wonder if board can enforce a floor call?

In Congress, and in state legislatures, one of the ways to keep this douchebaggery to a minimum is to do a floor call, which can go all the way to having law-enforcement go and find them, arrest them, and bring them to a vote by force.

[joeybee12]

4. Right, asshole...people always walk out in a huff when it's about

the rising cost of healthcare...and NOT because of their bigotry that they somehow feel is their right.

[NCLefty]

5. GOP concerned about health care costs but have zero alternative.

Just another day in the U.S.A.