GLAA follows up on fiscal impact of marriages and domestic partnerships
GLAA follows up on fiscal impact
of marriages and domestic partnerships
Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.
P.O. Box 75265
Washington, D.C. 20013
July 15, 2004
The Honorable Kathy Patterson
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Councilmember Patterson:
On June 10, I wrote to you in response to your inquiry on studies
showing the fiscal impact of domestic partner legislation and same-sex
marriage.
The three studies that I found showed positive fiscal impacts in New
Jersey, Vermont and California. The downside to the studies was that
they have a common lead researcher, Lee Badgett, and despite her
tremendous history as a researcher, they could not be considered
independently corroborated.
However, on June 21 the Congressional Budget Office issued a letter
finding that recognition of same-sex marriages in the U.S. would result
in just under a $1 billion annual increase in revenue. That letter is
on the internet at
http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=5559&sequence=0.
Lee Badgett has applied her analysis to businesses and a report issued
on June 22 found little to no fiscal impact if same-sex marriages are
recognized. This report is at
http://www.hrc.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Work_Life/Get_Informed2/Marriage_and_ Your_Workplace/busimpact.pdf
We hope that as future legislation is considered by the Council that
the budget impact statements will show these benefits.
Sincerely,
Bob Summersgill
Treasurer
Cc: All D.C. Councilmembers
Mayor Anthony Williams
