Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, and Rep. Triette Reeves, D-Detroit, seek to lower the number of people in Michigan with health insurance. Both are introducing bills in their respective legislative bodies that would bar employers from extending health insurance and other benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of their employees.

They also wish to constitutionally forbid same-sex couples from the legal commitments of marriage and even civil unions. They are wasting our time and money with their hatred.

Perhaps Cropsey and Reeves are not satisfied that I pay taxes on my employer's contribution to my partner's health insurance - something married couples do not do. Perhaps it is not enough for them that in most of Michigan, I can be denied housing, employment and public services because my life partner is also a woman.

I urge concerned citizens to contact their Michigan senators and representatives. There is no need to pass a constitutional amendment when the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is still in place, and it is costly to the people of this state to take away health insurance.

Emily Sippola
University of Michigan staff member