This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As early as Tuesday, the Salt Lake City Council could discuss a health-benefits package that would trump Mayor Rocky Anderson's domestic-partner order now at the center of a court case. Anderson's order allows city employees to sign up their gay and unmarried heterosexual partners for health insurance. Councilwoman Jill Remington Love expects the council plan will allow employees to sign up any adult with whom they live and have a long-term relationship. It would include domestic partners as well as relatives. "We want to provide as much health coverage as possible and make it as broad as possible," she said. She said the sticking point among council members would be cost - not the inclusion of gay partners. While employees would pay the premium to cover additional household members, the city would subsidize the insurance. Cost estimates were not available Thursday. Attorneys who have sued the city over the executive order support the council's plan. Anderson has criticized it, saying it sidesteps the issue of advancing equality, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. - Heather May


