On  Tuesday evening, Starkville’s Board of Aldermen rescinded the plus-one insurance plan, approved earlier in September. The plus-one insurance plan, passed by the Board of Aldermen two weeks ago, created an uproar from various citizens of Starkville. The dilemma faced is whether the board should extend coverage to domestic partners, including same sex partners, a notion the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently praised Starkville for passing. With a vote of 4 to 2 and one abstention, aldermen decided to amend the plus-one coverage at Tuesday’s meeting, which will extend coverage to only legally married couples.
According to a Starkville Daily News report, Mayor Parker Wiseman confirmed he will veto the amendment.
The report also states Wiseman has 10 days to veto.
During Tuesday’s aldermen meeting, while the floor was open for comments, many citizens expressed strong opinions on whether the board should amend the insurance plan.
During the meeting,  Alderman   Henry Vaughn (Ward 7) and other aldermen questioned if Wiseman and Chief Administrative Officer, Taylor Adams, were hiding information from the board.
“You and the mayor are hiding things. That’s not right. You have everyone thinking were bad people because you’re not helping us,” Vaughn said.
Wiseman said he personally supports the insurance plan’s extensive coverage.
“It is our job to make good policy,” Wiseman said.