« Ind. Decisions - Court reinforces right to resist excessive force | Main | Law - 7th Circuit Judges Frank Easterbrook and Diane Wood on Amercia & the Courts tonight »
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Ind. Gov't. - "State senators to keep controversial healthcare benefit"
"State senators to keep controversial healthcare benefit" is the headline to a story today in the Madison Courier.
A Jan. 10th ILB entry began with this quote from the Madison Courier:
State Rep. Billy Bright is publicly questioning a 2001 law that gives many legislators nearly free health insurance for the rest of their lives.Today the Madison Courier reports, in a story by Donovan Estridge:
A controversial healthcare benefit for Indiana state senators was upheld this week when the leader of the Senate decided to keep the taxpayer-subsidized plan.The healthcare plan was turned down last month in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, chose to cancel the subsidized program for lawmakers. Many lawmakers had hoped the Senate would follow suit.
“What do you plan to do with healthcare benefits?” Rep. Billy Bright R-North Vernon asked Sen. Jim Lewis, D-Charlestown, during a recent Third House Session in Madison.
Lewis declined to comment at the session. * * *
“We (legislators) are the only demographic who doesn’t have to go on Medicare,” Bright said.
Opponents of the plan are blasting senators for keeping the plan. Some senators disagree with the plan as well.
“My personal opinion is that we should not be supplemented,” Lewis said.
Though Lewis disagrees with the plan, he said he doesn’t know if he will use it when he retires. He might not be alone in his indecision.
“Several members of the Senate won’t lock into this plan,” Lewis said. “Some senators will receive better plans from their old schools or companies.”
He cited those lawmakers who were former teachers or worked for companies such as General Motors.
Lewis said the decision to keep or eliminate the subsidized healthcare benefits falls on the leadership of each house.
Bosma last month chose to cancel the program for the House of Representatives. Senate Pro-tem Robert Garton R-Columbus, chose to keep the plan for the Senate.
Garton did not return phone calls to The Madison Courier, but instead had Sen. Luke Kenley R-Noblesville speak for the plan.
Kenley said the old plan was flawed but praises the revised version.
“The old plan was clearly too generous,” Kenley said. “This plan is more middle of the road.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 18, 2006 07:16 PM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits