Baldwin Pitches Gay Health Care Bill

A lot of you are failing to understand what this is about. Obama issued an executive order last week that allowed for spouses/partners of LGBT federal employees access to some of the rights that spouses of straight federal employees have. This included things like being able to take sick leave to care for their partners and the use of medical facilities at posts abroad. What the White House could NOT do is offer the partners of LGBT employees health benefits (ie the ability to get on their partner's federal health plan) or Medicare benefits, among other things. To allow for full health benefits, an act of Congress is needed. That is what this law is about. It absolutely nothing to do with universal health care- if that law passed today as it stands, LGBT partners would still not have the right to enroll in the same federal health plans that the spouses of straight government employees currently have access to.

What disparity is she attempting to resolve? This is a solution in search of a problem it might solve.

Okay as an LGBT American, I honestly can't wrap my head around this piece of legislation. And for the first time I do agree with someone up above that is clearly homophobic. If this were to simply gather data so that we can know how many LGBT folks we have fine, but why not tackle universal healthcare for ALL, not just the LGBT community? I don't get it. When we can't even get DADT repealed with VERY HIGH PUBLIC SUPPORT, why in the world would this healthcare for just LGBT members pass? I'm sure that Congresswoman Baldwin means well, but in my opinion this is just asinine.

Her male counterparts in congress should have HALF the 'pair' this gal does! Where are all the Democrats who courted our votes last November? Ms. Baldwin seems to be the ONLY Democrat willing to stick her political neck out, on LGBT issues. Our 'fearless leader' of a President could take a lesson. YOU GO, GIRL!!

I doubt this will pass.... If we can't even get a public option for all Americans, I doubt this will pass.

Funny for a group that claims to want equaliy. when the President is trying to introduce universal health care, would we be proud that Ms. Baldwin is trying to get special treatment for LGBT issues. Excusae me, when the government is tring to get universal healthcare, you know protection for all, why do I want her to try and get special treatment for LGBTs. This is not the case in any country that has universal health care, not in Canada, not in Britain or in Sweden. What she is saying is that she doesn's have faith in the president's proposal or that she knows congress is willing to discuss it but place exclusions on certain groups espiaciall ours because of high rates of transmitting the diseease.

She does a lot of stuff for her Wisconsin district Jack. Check her site, she's pretty decent. Btw, what the heck is wrong with working harder on stuff for your district and the US as a whole? Don't some other minority reps work on their district issues and their community issues too?

She seems like a swell lady, but I honestly don't know how she gets elected. People usually vote their interests; does she have hetero constituents? Barney Frank does a lot of LGBT stuff, but he's also chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and makes national headlines on everything from the economy, to the war, to medical marijuana. She seems to be a one issue lady as far as I can tell. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

This is fantastic! I just hope something actually comes of it. Lately it seems like everything great for us seems to die a slow death behind the curtain before it can even get out to show itself off...