U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, along with other state
and city politicians, spoke at the Teaching Assistant Association social Friday
in support of efforts to aid Democratic candidates and work toward domestic
partner benefits for University of Wisconsin employees.

Baldwin addressed the crowd of graduate students at the Memorial
Union, applauding the TAA’s efforts to inform the community and take action
during the upcoming election.

“The TAA combines two elements that are important to me — love
of the university and work with organized labor,” Baldwin said. “I saw the
journey to form the TAA and played a powerful role in leading some of the
debates in the state. I am proud of the university for their tough and
progressive policies.”

Other leaders who maing an appearance included Madison
Democratic state representatives Spencer Black, Joe Parisi, Terese Berceau and
Rep. Mark Pocan.

State Rep. Fred Risser, D-Madison, also addressed the crowd
that night, thanking the students for all their hard work, adding that he
introduced and helped pass the bill that allowed for the TAA to organize in
1969.

One of the main issues brought up at the event was the fight
for domestic partner benefits for the university. The TAA is fighting for the
benefits by bargaining their contract with the state legislation.

“Domestic partner benefits are long overdue,” said Tim
Frandy, co-president of the TAA, blaming the lack of benefits on “the climate
of the state Legislature.”

The TAA has formed a coalition with Fair Wisconsin and the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organization and is also looking for support from
Chancellor Biddy Martin and the university to help in their fight.

“There are so many striking examples of why this is
necessary at the University,” Baldwin said. “We had a faculty member leave two
years ago and when he left, he took his million dollar grant and research with
him to another university, just because they offered domestic partner benefits.
We lost intellect and research scholars because of this.”

However, according to Mike
Mikalsen, spokesperson for state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, the TAA’s
efforts will go unanswered unless the university is willing to break state law,
which currently prohibits domestic partner benefits.

“It’s unfortunate that leadership of TAA would rather play
politics than represent their members in working conditions and wages, which is
what labor unions are usually for,” Mikalsen said.

Nass, along with some other state legislators, think changing
state law to allow domestic partner benefits is fiscally irresponsible and goes
against the desires of the majority of voters living in Wisconsin.

“Sixty percent (of voters) have defined marriage between one
man and one woman,” Mikalsen said, referring to Wisconsin’s 2006 amendment
banning state recognition of gay marriage. “Benefits should be offered only to
married individuals, and the state has an obligation to follow the voters.”

According to co-president Mark
Supanich, the TAA is not only using its contract to try to obtain these
benefits but is also trying to elect a “pro-labor, pro-education majority in
the state Legislature.”

“What’s at stake is education, labor, education, foreign
policy; this is why this is the most important presidential election,” Baldwin
said to the crowd, promoting domestic partner benefits. “You are doing what you
can to remind people of their rights as US citizens. Make us proud!”