OPINION & EDITORIAL
11th out of 10
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Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- A security fee-for-all (December 11, 2007)
- Farewell, Chancellor (December 10, 2007)
- $$FC (December 6, 2007)
- In a bind (December 5, 2007)
- Entitlement Town (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Pony up, partner (November 30, 2006)
- Significant benefits (April 12, 2007)
- UW must invest in partner benefits (April 10, 2007)
- Partner benefits easily outweigh costs (April 18, 2005)
- Students essential in defeating ban (October 5, 2006)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Monday, February 14, 2005
Of 11 Big Ten schools, 10 currently offer domestic partner benefits to faculty members. In Wisconsin alone, more than 100 major companies offer similar benefits. In a competitive market of employers, it's a simple matter of necessity that certain allotments are made to retain the top minds in any given field.
Out of that necessity, shortly before he presented his new budget to legislators last Tuesday, Gov. Jim Doyle leaked his intention to bring University of Wisconsin back toward the pack in this crucial area. Doyle portioned $500,000 per year in the state's two-year budget to fund benefits he and others hope will help the UW System retain top employees.
"It’s not like we’re somehow breaking new ground," Doyle told The Capital Times. "We’re just trying to make sure we’re not losing ground to other comparable universities."
Heaven forbid we break new ground …
More than the actual issue of partner benefits, it is the manner in which UW has finally implemented this widely-accepted funding that worries us. While Doyle and his sluggish supporters laud the state's university system as the top in the country, they fail to realize that to actually compete with systems in California, Virginia and North Carolina for such an honor, breaking new ground is far more important than keeping up with the innovations of others.
In matters of faculty retention, competitive tuition and quality education, "not losing ground" just isn't enough.
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 3:34am):
That's what happens when you let idiotic ideology get in the way of sensible public policy. You can thank John Gard and his band of morons.
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 10:46am):
No. This is wrong. Wtih times tight and budgets thin, the LAST thing we need to do is start adding costs. Ask any company in America right now - the quickest way to explode a budget is to increase the number of people receiving health care.
Bad idea, wrong time.
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 11:15am):
"Bad idea, wrong time."
You're right. Of course, it's not right that we deny benefits to the partners of some Wisconsin employees (gay and lesbian partners) but not others (spouses). Instead of offering benefits to domestic partners, let's cut off benefits to spouses.
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 2:52pm):
So how do they verify who a partner is? As a straight male rooming with someone who would be getting these benefits, can he say he is my "partner" so i get them too? Seems like easy abuse of the system to me... or are they going to check my rectum.
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 10:27pm):
lol It's not our responsibility to pay for your boyfriend's insurance. Shove it homos! (I am sure you will)
Anonymous (February 14, 2005 @ 10:28pm):
Hmmm So gay people won't want to live in WI? Oh darn!
Anonymous (February 25, 2005 @ 12:36pm):
What was the point of this article? Are you in favor of domestic partner benefits or are you just using this case as a poor excuse to take a shot at Doyle?
