In what at first looks like a surprising move given how virulently anti-gay the Republican Party of Virginia ("RPV")has become - i.e., it increasingly functions like a branch of Daddy Dobson's Family Foundation affiliate - Del. Tom Rust (R-Fairfax) filed the bill, H.B. 1726 that would allow Virginia companies to provide life insurance to partners of gay employees. However, once one realizes that Rust represents Fairfax County where GOP elected officials are a vanishing breed, it makes more sense. In addition, Rust is a business owner and apparently has realized that Virginia's anti-gay atmosphere puts corporate employers at a disadvantage on the recruiting front. Would that such rational thinking spread to more in the Kool-Aid drinking RVP. Here are some highlights from the Washington Blade:*
A Republican in the Virginia House of Delegates is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session that would allow Virginia companies to provide life insurance to partners of gay employees, according to the General Assembly’s web site.Del. Tom Rust (R-Fairfax) filed the bill, H.B. 1726, on Tuesday. The legislation has yet to be assigned to any committee within the state House.
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The bill “allows coverage under a group life insurance policy to be extended to insure any class of persons as may mutually be agreed upon by the insurer and the group policyholder.” Virginia law currently restricts supplemental life insurance coverage to legal spouses and dependent children under 19 or 25 if the child is a full-time student.
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Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), the only openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly, last year introduced a similar bill that would have allowed companies to provide life insurance to the partners of gay employees, but the measure failed in subcommittee.
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