Google to pay employees' "Gay Tax"

Google announced they would begin paying the extra taxes employees pay when they sign up their same-sex partners for health insurance.

What "gay tax", you ask? Let me provide a little context. When an employee puts their married, opposite-sex spouse on their company health insurance plan, the government doesn't count that as taxable income.   But when an employee signs up their same-sex partner for the same health plan, regardless of marital status, the federal government counts the employer's share of the premiums as taxable income to the employee.  So, several thousand dollars of extra taxes.  In addition, there are other "gay taxes" -- here's a short summary.

Of course, this is a stop-gap solution.  The easiest comprehensive solution would be for Congress to change the law about taxability of insurance premiums for domestic partners.  And while they're at it, change the laws on Social Security, disability, and the thousand other federal benefits.  Or if that seems like too much effort, just repeal Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage.