Domestic partnership benefits pass council, move onto mayor

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - City-county councilors voted late Monday evening to approve a domestic partner benefits ordinance.

It passed with bipartisan support around 10:30 PM, after about a half hour of debate, with a vote of 20-8.

The ordinance will give both same-sex and opposite sex couples who can prove they’re in a committed relationship the eligibility for both health insurance and pension benefits.

Now it heads to the mayor, who could either sign or veto the proposal.

He said Monday he was “ambivalent. ”

At the council meeting, about two dozen supporters sat silently in the audience, holding signs saying “Vote yes. ”

They also held a rally before the council meeting as well.

Those supporting the proposal say they're hopeful the mayor will sign it.

Annette Gross, Domestic Partnership Benefit Supporter, was at the rally beforehand and said, I'm feeling wonderful. I’m just thrilled they passed this and that most of them feel that their workers all deserve the same rights and benefits. I don’t think you can single people out by what group they’re in, or by their sexual orientation. ”

The passage of the vote comes after lively discussion between council members.

Those against the proposal cited the mayor's budget proposal and the city's $60 million dollar budget gap, saying the city can't afford more expenses.

 “Certainly I’m disappointed. The mayor proposed a budget here today, and two hours later we’re spending money we don’t have,” said Republican councilor Aaron Freeman, who voted against the proposal. “That didn’t account for this expenditure, and now we have to go find more money, and we don’t know how much that’s going to be. ”

Angela Mansfield, democratic councilor, says she’s hopeful the mayor will sign the ordinance.

“We’ve been in communication with mayor's staff all along. We've made several amendments to the proposal, at their suggestion, so we remain hopeful they will sign this. particularly because it was a bipartisan proposal. ”