County applies live-in partner benefits policy to contractors

By Keith Ervin
Seattle Times staff reporter

	Jane Hague
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Contractors who want to do business with King County in the future will have to give employees' domestic partners the same benefits they offer to spouses.

The Metropolitan King County Council yesterday voted to require companies seeking contracts worth more than $25,000 either to extend benefits to unmarried partners or deny them to married couples.

The ordinance, proposed by County Executive Ron Sims, broadens the county's existing policy of providing health-care benefits to the unmarried partners of county employees.

"We're not making anybody do anything. But if you want to do business with the county, you have to treat your employees fairly and equitably," said Dow Constantine, D-Seattle.

Councilwoman Jane Hague of Kirkland was the only Republican to vote with the Democratic majority in an 8-5 vote that came after lengthy and mostly partisan debate over the "equal-benefits ordinance."

Hague crossed party lines after Sims' chief of staff, Kurt Triplett, said the executive would work with the council to study the effectiveness of the ordinance in its first year.

Supporters said similar ordinances in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Tumwater and other jurisdictions have created a fairer working environment without raising the cost of government. Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, said San Francisco's contracting rules raised contractors' costs by only 1 percent.

Republican opponents, skeptical of the San Francisco numbers, said the ordinance might backfire by forcing some small-business owners to eliminate benefits for spouses and children rather than extend them to domestic partners and their children.

While most opponents focused on questions about possible costs to the county and businesses, Councilman Steve Hammond, R-Enumclaw, went further, calling the ordinance "this unnecessary, costly, anti-family legislation."

Hammond, a conservative Christian pastor before his appointment and subsequent election to the council this year, said his experience suggests the homes of married couples have less domestic violence and sexual abuse. It is appropriate, he said, for government to provide some privileges to married couples.

"How can you claim to be in favor of marriage and take away everything marriage involves?" he asked.

Democrat Carolyn Edmonds of Shoreline shot back, "There is one other thing you failed to mention, that I believe in: Judge not lest you be judged."

Patterson said the most important effect of the ordinance would be to bring health-care benefits to more people.

"I don't think this is a vote about marriage, and I don't think it's a vote about whether one condones homosexuality. I don't think it's about whether we think it's a good idea whether people live together," she said.

Construction-industry representatives earlier told the County Council the law would put nonunion employers at a competitive disadvantage. That is because nonunion employers would have to fully comply with the ordinance while union employers could receive a waiver if employee unions refused to negotiate changes in union-managed benefit plans.

Jeffrey Wasson, a member of the King County Labor Council executive board, said the labor council is encouraging union benefit trusts to provide benefits to domestic partners. "The house of labor is working towards that end," he said.

"Equal pay for equal work is what this is about," said Kirk Robbins of the pro-gay-rights Log Cabin Republicans.

Republican council members opposing the ordinance said many questions about its cost to the county and to businesses remained unanswered.

"I think it's appalling to see this railroading of social policy," said Kathy Lambert, R-Woodinville.

The ordinance was adopted at the final meeting chaired by Cynthia Sullivan, D-Seattle, the council's senior member, who was a proponent of earlier legislation that brought benefits to the domestic partners of county workers. Sullivan, a council member for 20 years, lost her re-election bid last month to fellow Democrat Bob Ferguson.

Larry Phillips, D-Seattle, was elected council chairman for the coming year.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com

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