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Thursday, January 19, 2006

Ind. Law - Still more stories today on legislative health care perks

Niki Kelly writes today in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette:

INDIANAPOLIS – A day after Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma announced plans to end a questionable health insurance perk for his members, Senate President Pro Tem Robert Garton tried to avoid hard questions from a pressing media.

Instead, Sen. David Long, R-Fort Wayne, took the lead, saying the situation is under review and decisions will be announced in the coming weeks.

He promised changes would be made to the program but said the Senate would likely not take the same route as the House. “We don’t have a final answer to any of this right now,” Long said. “We will modernize the program and make changes.” * * *

The subject has mostly bubbled under the surface for several years but gained attention when state Auditor Connie Nass recently sought money to conduct an actuarial study on the state’s unfunded liability.

It became clear then that no one really knows what the extensive perk might cost taxpayers in the future.

Garton, in a regularly scheduled weekly meeting with reporters Wednesday, did not answer several questions reporters directed to him specifically about the perk.

Long instead jumped in, saying he was answering for the Senate.

Long also chastised the media for misinformation on the program but refused to give anything but sparse details on it or the proposed changes. One of biggest things in contention is the long-term cost of the program.

The Senate has hired an actuary, but Long and Garton again declined to give information on the cost – only that it isn’t what has been reported – a $1 billion number first suggested by Nass.

Bosma on Tuesday also said he has better numbers but did not reveal them.

Mike Smith of the AP has a story today in the Louisville Courier Journal that begins:
The Senate is unlikely to follow House Speaker Brian Bosma's decision to end lifetime, state-subsidized health care benefits for House members who leave office starting next year, a top senator said yesterday.

But Senate Majority Floor Leader David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said the chamber will make some changes to the state health care plan for members who leave office.

For earlier related ILB entries, select "Legislative Benefits" from the list of categories in the right column.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 19, 2006 10:34 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits