>	From krobin@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca Fri Feb 26 10:40:39 1993
>From Boston NOW UPDATE:

Late in the afternoon, on Friday, February 12, Boston Mayor Ray Flynn 
vetoed the Family Protection Act, which had been passed by the Boston 
City Council on January 27. In its stead, the Mayor signed an executive 
order which would extend some benefits to household members of city 
empolyees only.

The Family Protection Act, passed by a council vote of 7 to 6, would 
have secured many rights and benefits currently held by married, 
heterosexual couples in the City of Boson to domestic partners and 
extended family members. The Act defined 'domestic partnership' as any 
two persons and registered dependents who share basic living expenses, 
assume responsibility for the welfare of their partner and registered 
dependents and are each other's sole domestic partner. It defined 
'extended family' as persons and dependents meeting all the above 
criteria, except provisions specific to couples.

In addtition to providing the same health care benefits to city workers 
who live in these kinds of families, the Family Protection Act would 
have extended visitation rights to health care facilities and correction 
centers and would have requird schools to afford both members of a 
domestic partnership or extended family equal access to a dependent's 
records. Under the ordinance, domestic partners and extended families 
would have been able to register at City Hall.

Flynn's executive order significantly narrows the scope of the 
ordinance. His order applies only to city employees, granting to 
'household members', sick, bereavement and family leave. The executive 
order alters the Mayor's Personnel Policy Manual by defining 'household 
members' as 'persons who currently reside in the houshold of a City of 
Boston employee, and have shared their principal domicile for not less 
than the past twelve months with the City of Boston employee.'

While Flynn's order mentions domestic partnership, it does not 
specifically define the term nor does it provide city residents with any 
mechanism for registering as domestic partners.
Flynn announced in his press statement that, while unwilling to expend 
city resources to remove discriminatory limits placed on health care 
benefits to city workers, he 'is challenging the health care providers 
to lift the barriers that deny household members access to health 
coverage."  Fynn stated further that he wants to create a pilot program 
to extend health benefits, so long as the full cost of the program is 
borne by the individual employee. Flynn said, "This Program must have no 
adverse financial consequences for the City and .. there would be no 
government employer contribution towards this coverage.'

Ellen Zucker, President of Boston NOW,said "We welcome the inclusion of 
a broader range of city employees in Boston's leave benefits Flynn's 
efforts are a step forward, but they represent a small step. His reasons 
for vetoing the ordinance and his narrow substitution are suspect; 
nevertheless, his executive order will help some in this city, so it is 
welcomed. We intend to push forwaard to make sure that Boston passes 
domestic partnership legislation that will benefit all city residents.'


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PS Keep in mind that now that Joseph Kennedy has declared that he
   will not be running for the govenorship, Flynn is considered a 
   top contender to run against Gov. Weld

Sharon