Mercer Co. Approves DP Benefits

November 23, 2005

TRENTON—Following the rejection by Ocean County of a request by a dying lesbian to extend benefits to her domestic partner, Mercer County voted to extend health and pension benefits to domestic partners. County Executive Brian Hughes introduced a resolution, which was unamimously approved by the county freeholders Tuesday night, and which provides equal access to dependent benefits for married couples and domestic partners.

Hughes disagreed with Ocean County's freeholders, who cited cost as the main reason for denying benefits.

Costs are really a false argument, he said. This is not going to break our budget. We're probably talking about a very small number of employees. The benefit far outweighs the cost.

County employees who wish to enroll must be in a registered domestic partnership and must provide proof of their registration by providing a certified copy of their registration certificate, or proof that they have entered into a civil union or equivalent relationship elsewhere.

See Trenton Times.

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