Some Worried Health Benefits Proposition Worded To Exclude Gay And Non-Married Couples Could Also Affect Retirees

The wording of a health benefits proposition on the upcoming November ballot has some people worried, while those who wrote the proposal said they have nothing to worry about.

The authors said it’s a way for opponents to deviate people from the intended target, but the possible unintended consequences has some retired city employees on edge.

“Reverend Brown has come up with this idea – he worded it wrong,” said Pilo Tejeda, president of El Paso Retired Firefighters.

For Tejeda the issue isn’t if the city should continue to extend medical benefits to gay and unmarried partners of city employees.

The retired firefighter fears he and many others could lose their health benefits due to the proposal’s wording.

“It leaves out retirees, widows and children,” explained Tejeda.

About 20 UTEP students and community members showed up to hear Tejeda and university professors discuss the issue on campus Thursday.

“I have had health insurance for 50 some years with the city and it would be gone for my wife and other peoples,” said Tejeda.

Although invited, neither Pastor Tom Brown, who wrote the proposal, or a representative from his congregation showed up.

Even organizers said they’re not surprised.

“They accepted the invitation some time back and then this past weekend declined the invitation,” explained Irma Montelongo, a UTEP lecturer.

On the phone, Pastor Brown told ABC-7 retirees are not his target. He said he declined the invitation because no city representative was going to be at the discussion.

He told our news partners at the El Paso Inc., “This is City Council’s way to scare retirees. We shouldn’t be voting based on our fears. We should be voting based on what’s right.”

ABC-7 also spoke with Barney Fields with El Pasoans For Family values, a group that pushed for the ordinance.

He explained the intent of the proposal is to “encourage traditional marriage and not reward sinful unions.”

Both men are confident nothing will happen to retirees or dependents because they’re not the targets.

Still, Tejeda and others said they are worried.

“It was a benefit we’ve always had. And now, all of a sudden, they want to take it away from us,” said Tejeda.

The election will be held Nov. 2.

To read the proposition on a sample ballot click here.