Politics & Government

State Senate Bill Hits Public Employees' Health Care

The bill will force teachers and other public employees to pay at least 20 percent of their health care premiums.

Under a bill passed Wednesday by the state Senate, teachers and other public employees would have to pay at least 20 percent of their health insurance premiums come Jan. 1, the Detroit Free Press reported.

This move was expected by L'Anse Creuse Education Association President Mara Wirtz.

"I'm very disappointed with what’s happening with our elected legislators," Wirtz said in an earlier interview. "Democratic or Republication, I don’t think they are doing what they promised the voters they would do. They never ran on an agenda of attacking the middle class, public schools and collective bargaining, but if you look at the bills they’ve been working on since Jan. 1, not one relates to creating jobs. Every one is attacking educators, collective bargaining and the middle class."

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Democrats have called the bill an attack on collective bargaining rights, too, as its measures would most affect young, newly hired school teachers who depend on generous health benefits.

The vote was 25-13, with only one Republican voting against the measure, Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba.

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"This is a reform. These are times when we have to make changes that are not always easy," said Sen. Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township) in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

However, fellow Sen. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit) did not share Jansen's sentiments and said he believes the state has "no business" setting down rules for local employee benefits.

"I don't need to be telling my mayor how to do his job," Young said.

While the requirements of the bill would take effect Jan. 1, it would not override current labor contracts. These contracts would be upheld until their expiration.

Under the Senate bill, public employers would pay no more than 80 percent of health insurance premiums for employees. The remaining 20 percent would be covered by the employees themselves in a method they are expected to agree upon with their employer.

Gov. Rick Snyder has voiced his support for such a limit as well.


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