More On The Benefits Cuts

Yesterday I wrote a bit on the proposed cuts to the guaranteed benefits system that our state legislators are pumped into, after only 5 years, 9 months of service. Here’s another good look at the issue … Free insurance for life? Legislator perk on table.

I’m tempted to slam the GOP for not getting on board …

The health-care proposal is part of an overall plan to cut $3 million out of the House budget.

“What we’re doing today is leading by example” before looking for other places to cut the state budget, said House Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit.

But area Republicans called the Democrats’ announcement a “smoke screen.”

(I’m not sure why it’s a ‘smoke screen’)

The article goes on …

The idea is nothing new, said Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, although he added he would support it.

“I don’t think public servants should have better health care than the average American worker,” he said, acknowledging that, right now, lawmakers’ health care is “far superior.”

Well you should’ve done something about it before, when the GOP had control of the legislature. Thanks, Dave.

But the important thing is that we move forward on this now. Democrats aren’t so innocent when it comes to cutting their own perks. I’m glad to see the legislature is doing something about this. Too bad it took a national outcry over health care + a budget crisis in Michigan to get them to consider it. This is something they could’ve done years ago. We’d be in a stronger position now if they had.

h/t to MichLib News Center