Mary Beth Schneider, reporting for the Indy Star has an article entitled State reps’ health perks bumped off the public till. The issue was the perpetual health insurance perk for current legislators, retirees, and their families which was passed by stuffing various pieces of the scheme in separate bills.
After quite a bit of political heat and a federal accounting change that will bring the full cost of the benefit to light, Speaker Bosma has decided to use his authority to end the benefit for currently serving Representatives. Those who have already retired with the benefit will keep it. Senators are not affected by the Speaker’s action. Apparently there is a window for current Representatives to retire and keep the benefit.
This is just anectdotal, but I had conversations with an official elected to local office in Ohio for whom health insurance became a major reason for continued service. So I imagine the window of opportunity for Indiana representatives to retire with perpetual health benefits for them and their families is a powerful incentive to get out now. I guess we’ll see what happens.
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