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| State Senate OKs bill forcing teachers, public employees to pay at least 20% of health care premiums | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 18 2011, 08:44 PM (625 Views) | |
| Deleted User | May 18 2011, 08:44 PM Post #1 |
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State Senate OKs bill forcing teachers, public employees to pay at least 20% of health care premiums 4:08 PM, May. 18, 2011 | 233 Comments BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF DETROIT FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU # Stephen Henderson: Bring it on. Public employee benefit reform is long overdue # Public schools could see boost under new deal Public school and local government employees would pay at least 20% of their health insurance premiums under a bill passed overwhelmingly today by the state senate. The requirement would take effect Jan. 1. Current labor contracts would remain in force until they expire. The law would not affect state and university employees unless voters approved a constitutional amendment. The Senate also voted along party lines to place that question on a ballot. Under the Senate bill, public employers would pay no more than 80% of health insurance premiums for employees. The remaining 20% cost would be spread among the employees however they and their employer agree. The vote was 25-13, with only one Republican voting no, Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba. Gov. Rick Snyder has called for such a limit as well. Republicans said the bill would create true cost containment reform. Democrats called it an attack on collective bargaining rights that would most affect young, newly hired school teachers who have low salaries but depend on generous health benefits. "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. But Sen. Coleman Young II, D-Detroit, said 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. http://www.freep.com/article/20110518/NEWS06/110518031/1001/rss01 |
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| 134K | May 19 2011, 10:14 AM Post #2 |
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I wonder if our legislators are included in this? |
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| LPS Reformer | May 19 2011, 07:14 PM Post #3 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Link MEA responds to legislative attacks Posted on 05/19/11 at 4:15pm Next big Lansing protest is Saturday Several dozen MEA members, leaders, and staff were at the Capitol today to talk with legislators about votes this week affecting public employee wages and health care. On Wednesday, the Senate passed House Bill 4152 (to freeze step wage increases when a contract expires) and Senate Bill 7 (to require public employees to pay at least 20 percent of the cost of their health insurance) and the House Education Committee approved bills to dismantle tenure and collective bargaining laws. Those votes compelled the educators to visit Lansing -- to hold accountable the lawmakers who supported these measures, and to thank those who did not. "Not everybody could make it here today," said Scott Wilsey, a teacher in the Van Buren school district, who was lobbying at the Capitol for the first time. "I felt it was important that somebody from my school was here. . . we're tired of being the punching bags. We want to be part of the process." Susan Duda-Osborne, another Van Buren teacher, thanked Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, for rejecting House Bill 4152 and Senate Bill 7. In a press statement, MEA President Iris K. Salters described the votes as "yet another assault on public education and the middle class." After the votes Wednesday, MEA's Facebook page was flooded with comments. Local association presidents are planning local events, including informational picketing and other public outreach. Contact your local union president to find out about activities in your area. The next opportunity to protest en masse at the Capitol is Saturday during MEA Action Day. MEA Action Day begins at 1 p.m. at MEA headquarters in East Lansing. Join MEA members, family, and friends for a picnic lunch, entertainment for kids and adults, and opportunities to fight back against the legislative attacks. At 4 p.m., we'll join thousands of others for a rally at the Capitol in Lansing. We’ll protest the power struggles and collectively ask lawmakers to protect our schools and start working together to create jobs. . |
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| LPS Reformer | May 19 2011, 08:12 PM Post #4 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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“Child Abuse” means different things to different people.... ----Randy Liepa 8/9/12 | |
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| LPSisPoor | May 19 2011, 09:03 PM Post #5 |
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Long overdue!! The gravy train is over!! |
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