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Rep. Baldwin To Discuss Benefit Memo With Rachel Maddow

Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin will be on the Rachel Maddow Show (9pm EST) in order to discuss President Barack Obama’s signing today of a memorandum instructing the Executive Branch to extend most of the benefits that one gets while employed by the Federal Government to partners of gays and lesbians. Representative Baldwin is one of three openly gay or lesbian members of Congress the other two being, most famously, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Jared Polis of Colorado. Rep. Baldwin will also being discussing her partner Lauren Azar.

President Obama, at 5:45pm, signed a memorandum which is not an executive order. This memorandum is directed towards the Office of Personnel Management, and it is intended to extend what benefits can be legally given to same-sex couples as constrained by the Defense of Marriage Act. This memorandum does direct Secretary Hilary Clinton to do the same thing as Director John Berry of the OPM, Secretary Clinton already issued a similar order earlier in the year. The request also goes out to all other department heads to determine which of their benefits can be legally extended to domestic partners.

President Obama did call upon Congress to repeal DOMA stating that it is discriminatory and interferes with State’s Rights. He did, however, issue his regrets that he could not extend all benefits to domestic partners of gays and lesbians in the country.

President Obama also endorsed the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. This act would extend domestic partner benefits to all employees of the Federal Government. It should be noted that this legislation may have a similar effect as all other Civil Service bills and only cover employees of the Legislative and Executive Branch. The Judicial Branch does not recognize all civil service laws.

Many feel that President Obama has been forced into some defensive action to prevent his base of support from totally splintering. While it is true that either Congress or the Courts must overturn DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, it has not seemed like the Executive Branch has been entirely willing to work towards that end either. Senator Obama while running for President stated repeatedly his support for gay, lesbian and transgender rights, many have grown frustrated with his lack of vocal support since then. The briefing filed in order to attempt to end Smelt v. United States was a tipping point in this case even though the cases cited in that brief may have been something of a smokescreen. It is possible that the lawyer involved in defending the government may have been attempting to get those problematic and vile cases deemed irrelevant to lawsuits involving anything going up against DOMA. Still, that brief only let loose a flood of growing frustration which the President is having to now deal with.

After today’s signing ceremony in the Oval Office Congresswoman Baldwin said, “President Obama’s orders today will make a real difference in people’s lives. Domestic partners, parents, and their children will now receive a number of meaningful benefits currently granted other federal employees.

LGBT Americans yearn for full equality. After last week’s U.S. Department of Justice filing seeking to dismiss a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), many in the LGBT community, myself included, were profoundly disappointed. After that disappointment, I was heartened to hear the President make a strong case today for the repeal of DOMA.

It was also gratifying to hear the President proudly announce his support for my Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. I look forward to working with him and House and Senate leaders as we work toward passage of this legislation that will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees all of the benefits currently enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees.

President Obama said today that his Memorandum is just a start. I agree that it is an important step in the quest for full equality for LGBT Americans. I welcome the challenge and the President’s support.”

This is a small step. It is an important one. However, this is not the end of this.