By Gilman Halsted Wisconsin Public Radio
A new bill just introduced in the U.S. Senate would guarantee that legally married same sex couples no matter where they live will be eligible for spousal benefits under Social Security.
The bill ties up one of the loose ends left after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year. Soon after the court's ruling, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that same-sex couples were now eligible to receive all federal spousal benefits, but only in the state where the marriage was performed. Benefits have been on hold for couples who live in states like Wisconsin, where same-sex marriage is still illegal.