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| No Death Benefits for Studds's Spouse |
| 2006-10-19 |
| The federal government has refused to pay death benefits to the spouse of former congressman Gerry E. Studds (D-Mass.), the first openly gay member of Congress. Studds married Dean Hara in 2004 after same-sex marriage was legalized in Massachusetts. But Hara will not be eligible to receive any portion of Studds's estimated $114,337 annual pension because the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing Studds's marriage. Peter Graves, a spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, which administers the congressional pension program, said same-sex partners are not recognized as spouses for any marriage benefits. He said Studds's case is the first of its kind known to the agency. Under federal law, pensions can be denied only to lawmakers' same-sex partners and to people convicted of espionage or treason, Graves said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 Haw haw |
| Posted by: Shipman 2006-10-19 14:47 |
| #9 Frank, that's funny. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-10-19 13:46 |
| #8 Peter Graves, a spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, which administers the congressional pension program, said: Have you ever seen a grown man naked?" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-19 13:40 |
| #7 "Now they have a death in the congressional family of one of their distinguished members whose spouse is being treated differently than any of their spouses," Buseck said. Um....OK. Time for a definition: Main Entry: spouse Pronunciation: 'spaus also 'spauz Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French espus (masculine) & espuse (feminine), from Latin sponsus betrothed man, groom & sponsa betrothed woman, bride, both from sponsus, past participle of spondEre to promise, betroth; akin to Greek spendein to pour a libation, Hittite sipant- : married person : HUSBAND, WIFE - spou·sal /'spau-z&l, -s&l/ adjective |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-10-19 11:25 |
| #6 ...and to people convicted of espionage or treason, Lynne Stewart, there's still hope for you! |
| Posted by: Raj 2006-10-19 08:23 |
| #5 You nailed it, anon. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-19 07:08 |
| #4 Under federal law, pensions can be denied only to lawmakers' same-sex partners and to people convicted of espionage or treason, Graves said. That is too funny. Um, no, pensions are also denied to the neighbors, brothers, fathers, sisters, mothers, best friends, coffee partners, tennis partners, roommates, and favorite hookers. |
| Posted by: anon 2006-10-19 03:13 |
| #3 so much for the ballbearing spouse |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-10-19 01:30 |
| #2 Iff the Gays-and-Lesbians want "marriage", as a class IMO they have to be willing to legally, financially, materially, emotionally, morally spiritually, and psychologically, etal. take care of any and all children-Minors REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE BIOLOGICALLY RELATED TO SAME, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR RELATIONSHIP = "MARRIAGE" LASTS/ENDURES OR NOT. Why, becuz hetero "parents", SINGLE ANDOR JOINT, are and do. DO NOT ASK FOR MARRIAGE UNLESS ARE WILLING TO BE A "PARENT/SPOUSE" IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, AT LAW ANDOR NOT AT LAW. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-10-19 00:49 |
| #1 So, if he didn't marry and put the pension to his estate and left his estate to the "boy"friend, no biggie? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-10-19 00:40 |