This proposal permits employees to choose to cover an "otherwise qualified adult" at their expense, *without* cost to taxpayers. Health insurance coverage will become available to some adults and children in Virginia who might otherwise be uninsured.

Offering such benefits will help recruit and retain the best and the brightest to work for VA agencies and educational institutions, and bring the public sector up to par with the 66% of top private employers in Virginia who offer at least this level of benefits.

Offering expanded benefits is good for Virginia, the Commonwealth's taxpayers and our families, and will help heal the wounds inflicted upon Virginians by enshrining discrimination into our constitution by banning gay marriage.