The Muncie Star has an opinion entitled Editorial: Benefits for ex-legislators too costly for taxpayers referring to the legislation, passed in 2002, that offers taxpayer subsidized healthcare for ex-legislators. (See previous entry.) According to the Star Press:
While that doesn’t make a ripple in the $11.6 billion state budget, the benefit is offensive in principle, particularly at a time when legislators are cutting state programs because “there’s not enough money.” In addition, lifetime benefits have a way of adding up to real money over the years as more and more beneficiaries waddle up to the trough. This is all in addition to a pension program that legislators created in which the state matches $4 for every $1 they contribute.
The Muncie Star Press takes the House Republicans for using the benefit as a campaign issue against Democrats but then failing to take action once they gained control.
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