Demagogue

Conservatives often say that government should "operate more like a business." But if Congressional conservatives take their cue from business trends, then I guess they'll be signing on to co-sponsor a new bill to make domestic partner benefits available to federal employees.

Late last week, the Human Rights Campaign released this statement in support of the bill

“Corporate America is leaving the federal government in its dust,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “If the federal government wants to attract and retain the best employees they will adopt the equal benefits practices of the country’s largest and most successful businesses.”

Thirty-nine Fortune 50 companies offer domestic partner benefits to employees’ same-sex partners.

In fact, the number of Fortune 500 companies offering domestic partner benefits has increased tenfold since 1995. This includes iconic brands such as the “big three” automakers, IBM, Microsoft, Walt Disney, Citigroup, AOL Time Warner and American Airlines. Nationwide, more than 8,500 companies offer these benefits — an increase in 13 percent just over the past year.

“In a competitive job market, the nation’s largest employer cannot afford to sacrifice quality employees by not offering equal pay for equal work,” said Solmonese.

... A 1999 Society of Human Resources Management and Commerce Clearing House survey found domestic partnership benefits to be one of the top three recruiting incentives among all employees.