Senate Passes Budget Bill with 75/25 Split for Health Insurance; Budget Headed for Conference Committee
May 29, 2009
State senators rejected the Senate Ways & Means Committee proposal to require all state employees to pay 30 percent of their health insurance premiums; they did, however, approve a budget bill with a health insurance premium split of 75/25. Thank you for your calls and emails to state senators—they clearly made a difference.
Although the Senate voted to move forward with 75/25, the battle is not over, as it now moves into a six-member conference committee. Lawmakers in committee will consider both the House and the Senate language, so it will be very important for NAGE members to contact committee members to urge adoption of the House 80/20 language.
The legislators appointed to this year’s conference committee are:
- Sen. Steven Panagiotakos 617-722-1630 or Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us
- Sen. Stephen Brewer 617-722-1540 or Stephen.Brewer@state.ma.us
- Sen. Michael Knapik 617-722-1415 or Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us
- Rep. Charles Murphy 617-722-2990 or Rep.CharlesMurphy@hwm.state.ma.us
- Rep. Barbara L’Italien 617-722-2380 or Rep.BarbaraL’Italien@hou.state.ma.us
- Rep. Viriato deMacedo 617-722-2100 or Rep.VinnyDemacedo@hou.state.ma.us
Once again, your participation in the budget process can make a big impact on lawmakers’ final budget proposal. Please contact these conference committee members as soon as possible to urge their approval of 80/20.