Health benefits reinstated

INCLINE VILLAGE -- A governmental agency at Lake Tahoe has reinstated health care insurance benefits to domestic partners of employees after hearing complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union and others.

The Incline Village General Improvement District board's action, taken on a 4-1 vote Wednesday night, came after it revoked the benefits on a 3-2 vote Feb. 25.

The earlier vote prompted protests by the ACLU and Human Rights Campaign.

The board reviewed the issue at the request of board member Bea Epstein, who was on the losing side of last month's 3-2 vote.

That action reversed the board's vote last August in favor of offering domestic partner benefits.

About 60 people attended Wednesday's meeting, and many spoke about equality and fairness.

"We should not say to one employee that we are going to pay you less because we don't approve of the relationship you have entered into," said board member Chuck Weinberger.

The lone dissenting vote was cast by board member John Bohn, who has said he opposed the benefits because he doesn't think the north Lake Tahoe community supports them.