The Michigan legislature is poised to vote on Wednesday morning, August 24, on a proposal regarding public employee health care. The conference committee will be reporting out SB 7 for an up or down vote, meaning there will be no amendments. We need you to send a letter to your State Representative and State Senator today asking them to oppose this bill.
Senate Bill 7 has combined two health care proposals - the 80/20% plan and the "hard cap" plan. The 80/20% plan means employers could cover no more than 80% of the health care premium being charged for health insurance. The "hard cap" proposal would mean employers could pay only an amount set by the legislature for health care; it looks like the limits are $5,5oo for single person, $11,000 for 2 person and $15,000 for family. It is unclear whether these caps would ever change.
If school districts did not implement this change, they could be fined 10% of their school aid payment or their economic vitality payment.
This combined proposal shifts costs to employees but does nothing to contain health care costs. It limits our ability to customize health care benefits for our specific local groups, and it further limits our collective bargaining rights.
To add insult to injury, public employers other than school districts, could vote to opt out of this set of rules....BUT NOT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Send an email today asking your legislator to vote NO on SB7!
This also conflicts with DASHBOARD requirements of 10% payment on employees' part. The state is totally upending local control!
I will post this to my blog, as well as email addresses that can be used to contact senators.
State Senator Mike Kowall R-White Lake Twp
517-373-1758
SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Joe Hune - R - Hamburg Township (Livingston County)
SenJHune@senate.michigan.gov
CALL and email today and tomorrow morning!!!!
MEA
About Me
- Tfitzjake
- I wrote this introduction 6 years ago, and it is even more important today than ever. The voices of educational employees need to be heard above the roar of public school attacks in this country. We are on the front line; we are highly educated and trained professionals. Why are we being ignored? I am an educator. I was the president of the Walled Lake Education Association for over 6 years, and before that, the treasurer for 8 years. I have been on the bargaining team for 15 years. I am now the MEA UniServ Director for 7K and parts of IJ. I want our voice to be heard! Today's educational climate requires that we all stay informed regarding the issues affecting our chosen profession!