* I hadn’t thought of this angle, but Rep. Greg Harris explained yesterday that his civil unions bill might help a whole lot of senior citizen couples…
Harris’ House Bill 1826 would let couples opt for civil unions, rather than marriage. Each partner in a civil union would have legal protections and obligations that already are available to married people. For example, one partner could make crucial decisions, such as those involving medical care, on behalf of the other.
The issue is especially relevant to senior citizens who have been widowed and have entered another relationship, Harris said.
Often, such couples struggle with the decision of whether to remarry because their Social Security and pension benefits could be cut, he said at a state Capitol news conference. If they don’t marry, they lack the legal standing to make health-care and other decisions for one another. […]
“This is not just a civil union bill for same-sex couples,” [Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria] said later. “Most people, when they react to it, only react to the same-sex-couple issue.”
There’s no word yet on when Harris will call his bill.
We’ve had several civil union debates over the years, so I’m wondering today what you think of this particular angle.