Pension Bill Passed Senate, now on to House

The RI Senate just passed S 619, which would allow state employees and others with public pensions to leave their pension to their domestic partner, by a vote of 29-0 with one abstention.

Now, the race is on to get it through the House before they adjourn for the year. Please call House Finance Committee chairman Steven Costantino at (401) 521-1313 or the House Finance Committee at 222-6916 to make sure that S 619 makes it on the calendar before the end of the session.

This is the only bill in the MERI platform that has received a vote this year, and we’d really like to see our General Assembly pass at least one piece of legislation in support of same-sex couples and their families. We’ve been told repeatedly that it’s the word, not the rights, that keeps our legislation from passing – the failure of the House and Senate leadership to move these basic protections belies that statement.

Keep the pressure on! Call your own state Rep and Senator to let them know you want their support for the MERI platform of domestic partner protections.