When politics hits home

Two things in politics have hit close to home for me in the past couple of months. First, I am taking advantage of COBRA for insurance since I got laid off. As it turns out part of the "Stimulus Package" was help with COBRA premiums. So, for the next 9 months the government is picking up the tab for 2/3 of my premium. Pretty cool. Somehow that seems to have a much greater impact than any rebate or tax cut in recent memory.

The second thing is not so dandy. I've watched the developments in the same-sex marriage debate for years. As a flaming liberal I think unions made in love, regardless of same or different sex pairings should be sanctioned in AT LEAST a civil ceremony. But i must admit, it doesn't matter much to me personally.

Today I received a letter from my health insurance company. It was to inform me of a new rider on the above mentioned health insurance. The language made my blood run cold:

Section XIII. Definitions as been updated to include the following definition of Spouse:

Spouse: A person's partner in a legal marriage. For purposes of Dependent eligibility under this Certificate, spouse includes same sex partners who are married in jurisdictions that recognize same sex marriages. (my italics)

I'm pretty sure the company I used to work for paid dependent benefits for same sex couples here in Texas where same sex marriages are not sanctioned by law. As I have no dependents, and am hopelessly straight this doesn't effect me personally. But it sure drives home what was, till now, just another chunk of political mumbo jumbo. Too bad some really nice folks are getting jacked around in my ex-employer's further reduction in costs.