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Williams Institute Economist Lee Badgett Testifies on Domestic Partner Benefits in Alaska Today March 9, 2006 Los Angeles--Today Williams Institute Visiting Professor and Economist M. V. Lee Badgett testified before the Alaska Senate Finance Committee that offering domestic partner benefits to state employees would be good for the health of Alaskans and for the health of the State budget. Her testimony related to SJR20, a bill that would amend the state constitution and prevent the state from granting rights like domestic partner benefits. Badgett testified that providing domestic partner benefits to same-sex and different-sex partners would have several positive effects. More people in Alaska would be covered by private health insurance, reducing the state and local governments’ need to provide Medicaid coverage and to pay for uncompensated care for uninsured Alaskans. The state could save roughly $1million per year in such costs. Any added costs for partner coverage would be manageable and would likely be split between employees and the State. “Providing domestic partner benefits improves the health and well-being of employees in many ways,” noted Badgett. “Many studies show that domestic partner benefits tell gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees that it’s safe to be more open about their sexual orientation in the workplace. The ability to be more open reduces stress and improves the quality of life for gay employees.” These individual benefits will reduce employment costs for the State of Alaska, as well, Badgett found. Studies demonstrate that when gay employees are more “out” in the workplace, they are more satisfied with their jobs and are less likely to leave their positions, reducing recruitment and retraining costs for the State as an employer. Heterosexual workers increasingly see domestic partner benefits as a signal of creative and tolerant workplaces. According to Williams Institute Executive Director Brad Sears, “A careful look at the research and new data confirmed what many private employers have found in Alaska and elsewhere. Domestic partner coverage comes with important benefits for employees and employers.”
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