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Monday, February 13, 2006

Ind. Gov't. - "Sen. Garton, kill health care perk"

"Sen. Garton, kill health care perk" is the headline to today's Indianapolis Star editorial. It begins:

Our position: Senate president pro tempore should end perk that gives legislators and their families subsidized health care for life.

You're probably asking yourself, Sen. Garton, why you should take away from your fellow senators a generous benefit that provides heavily subsidized health, dental and vision care for retired lawmakers and their families for life. The Star Editorial Board offers some answers.
The Star editorial concludes:
Will primary opponent Greg Walker and Democratic challenger Terry Corriden use this issue against me this year?

Ask former colleague Lawrence Borst, whose defeat at the hands of now-Sen. Brent Waltz was as much due to outrage about the perk as it was about Borst's opposition to gaming expansion. Or talk to state Rep. Troy Woodruff, who credits voter outrage over the perk with his victory over incumbent John Frenz two years ago.

The answer, senator, is yes. And deservedly so.

So how can I save my job and best serve the voters?

Even though Rep. Woodruff's plan to kill the perk, in the form of HB 1309, died in the House, you can simply end the benefit with the stroke of a pen. Speaker Brian Bosma did exactly that last month. Then, in next year's session, you could support a new version of the bill to end the subsidy permanently.

[For earlier related ILB entries, select "Legislative Benefits" from the list of categories in the right column, or by selecting "Legislative Benefits" in the line directly below this entry.]

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 13, 2006 06:27 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits