Cleveland Councilman Cimperman Introduces Ordinance To Afford Health Care Benefits To Domestic Partners Of City Employees; Says “Passing This Is The Right Thing To Do”

The Plains Dealer reports that Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman says he has enough support for an ordinance introduced Monday night that will give health care benefits to domestic partners of city employees, but he said he is aware it will be difficult to convince those councillors who oppose the plan. An estimated 120 unmarried couples are on the city's domestic partner registry, first made available in May 2009. Those registering were required to demonstrate they were sharing expenses on a long-term basis, such as a mortgage or utility bills, to ensure their authenticity. The registry, which passed in late 2008 as a means of getting insurance, also created controversy. Soon after council adopted it 13-7, several local pastors, led by the Reverend C.J. Matthews of Mount Sinai Baptist Church, joined together to repeal it, circulating petitions needed to collect about 11,000 signatures to put the issue to a citywide vote. But the effort fell far short of the goal. Cimperman said 10 council members are co-sponsoring the ordinance, and that three others will vote for it, "so we have more than enough support to get this passed." He said Council President Martin J. Sweeney has agreed to the debate, adding "But I always anticipate a hard sell. You take nothing for granted in the legislative process." Council members were expected to assign the ordinance to at least one city committee, and Cimperman said as many as three -- the finance, health and employment, and legislative committees -- could consider its merits. Cimperman said major companies like the Cleveland Clinic and Medical Mutual currently offer health care to their domestic partner employees, and said the city should follow suit. He also said 21 states, 404 Fortune 1000 companies and around 4,000 other private firms, nonprofits and unions provide the same benefits. "There's no reason this ordinance shouldn't pass," he said. "Cleveland has the four best health systems in the country in the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth and St. Vincent, plus we have the Gay Games coming here in 2014 with over 50,000 visitors coming to our city." Cimperman also said health care for domestic partners will not cost taxpayers because it cuts down on uninsured care, and also helps the city in its efforts to recruit employees. "Plus, if health care is a human right, passing this is the right thing to do," Cimperman said.