While this is not ideal, here is how I was able to work around this issue. I built a commit hook! Not perfect, I know. Ideas?
#!/bin/sh
#
# Automatically adds branch name and branch description to every commit message.
# Edit .git/hooks/commit-msg & make sure it is excutable chmod +x
# Requires git config --add remote.github.url {value}
#
NAME=$(git branch | grep '*' | sed 's/* //')
DESCRIPTION=$(git config branch."$NAME".description)
TEXT=$(cat "$1" | sed '/^#.*/d')
GIT_COMMIT_SHORT_ID=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
GIT_COMMIT_ID=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
GIT_GITHUB_URL=$(git config --get remote.github.url)
if [ -n "$TEXT" ]
then
echo "$NAME"': '$(cat "$1" | sed '/^#.*/d') > "$1"
if [ -n "$DESCRIPTION" ]
then
echo "" >> "$1"
echo $DESCRIPTION >> "$1"
fi
echo $GIT_GITHUB_URL$GIT_COMMIT_ID >> "$1"
else
echo "Aborting commit due to empty commit message."
exit 1
fi