CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman says he has enough support for an ordinance he introduced Monday night that will give health care benefits to domestic partners of city employees.
But he said he also knows it will be a hard sell to those councilmen who oppose the plan.
About 120 unmarried couples are on the city's domestic partner registry, which was first made available in May 2009. Those registering had to show they were sharing expenses on a long-term basis, such as a mortgage or utility bills, to ensure their authenticity.
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Cimperman said major firms like the Cleveland Clinic and Medical Mutual already offer health care to their domestic partner employees, and he said the city should follow suit. He also said 21 states, 404 Fortune 1000 companies and about 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 it 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.
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