The Senate recently passed a spending bill that would force state employees to pay 25 percent of their premiums. A few weeks earlier, the House of Representatives voted to raise the amount that current state employees pay to 20 percent. Under this House plan, those hired after July 1, 2009 would pay 25 percent.
While an increase in premium costs is not optimal, the 80/20 proposal in the final House budget is far better than the 75/25 plan approved by the Senate.
The members of the conference committee are:
- Ways and Means Chairman Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, D-Lowell
- Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre
- Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield
- Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Charles Murphy, D-Burlington
- Rep. Barbara L'Italien, D- Andover
- Rep. Viriato deMacedo, R-Plymouth
Please call, write and/or
e-mail your state senator and state representative today and urge them to ask the members of the conference committee to support the 80/20 House plan.
Tell them that it is unfair to burden state employees with significantly higher health insurance premium costs during these difficult economic times.
