Bill would give
federal workers DP benefits

A bill to provide benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers has the support of several top Democractic senators, reports the New York Post. The eleventh-hour measure, authored by Sen. Joe Lieberman, would make same-sex partners eligible for benefits if they are in a committed relationship, live together, and share responsibility for each other's welfare.

According to the Post, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has quietly cosponsored the bill, a move that is likely to cool some of the heat she's been getting from gay rights activists for opposing same-sex marriage. The measure, filed just before Congress left Washington late last month to hit the campaign trail, is being hailed by the Human Rights Campaign as "the right thing to do."

Clinton is not the only possible Democratic contender for the White House to sign on to the bill. Senators John Kerry and Russ Feingold joined her in cosponsoring it. (The Advocate)