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Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Ind. Law - More on legislators' life-time health care benefit
The Indianapoltis Star today has two Letters to the Editor on the health care perk. Some quotes:
What a health-care deal for part-time legislatorsThoughts. Re part-time legislators receiving life-time benefits, in an entry this weekend (which you are urged to read in full) the ILB pointed to the example of a House member, age 46, retiring this year after 6 years and one-month of service as a part-time legislator.It is appalling that Indiana's part-time elected officials ever passed a law allowing themselves, their spouses and even divorced spouses to receive lifetime health-care coverage at taxpayers' expense. How many businesses provide insurance for part-time employees, let alone lifetime coverage?
Garton can't count on voters forgetting health-care issue
State Sen. Bob Garton's futile attempt to justify paid health care for state senators, their families and even former spouses, all at the expense of Indiana taxpayers, is a disgraceful example of what happens when lawmakers lose touch with those who elect them.
Thirty years from now, in 2036, Indiana taxpayers will still be subsidizing the health care of this now 76-year-old and his spouse (or his surviving spouse). The ILB entry calculated that this benefit would cost Indiana taxpayers $300,000 to $400,000 for this single retiree, for his brief, part-time, legislative service.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 22, 2006 08:42 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law | Legislative Benefits