Video: Wiseman Vetoes ‘Plus-One’ Insurance Amendment

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Click here to read Wiseman Veto

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — As expected, Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman has vetoed aldermen’s decision to limit the city’s new employee-plus 1-adult insurance coverage.

Tuesday night, the aldermen, after two weeks of controversy, voted 4-2 to amend the new provision to limit coverage to only couples recognized as legally married under Mississippi law. The change would exclude gay couples, gay couples married in other states, males and females who live together in long-term relationships and even a parent and an older child or visa versa.

Under the old coverage, homosexual and straight employees in a relationship with a significant other could have opted to pay for insurance coverage for their partner.

Aldermen originally approved the new insurance option without controversy at their Sept. 2 meeting. But after a national gay rights group lauded the decision, the city got national attention. It also sparked some members of the public to criticize Waise, City Administrator Taylor Adams and aldermen for having a “gay agenda.” One effort to amend the policy failed at a special meeting but another week of debate and public comment resulted in Tuesday’s vote.

Wiseman said at the time he would issue a veto.

In his message, he noted the option saved the city money and gave families of all kinds a chance to improve their insurance coverage, which benefits all citizens with lower health care costs in the long run. Starkville pays the insurance premium for individual employees and the employee can pay additional premiums for the “plus 1, or two different versions of family coverage.