June 03, 2008
"Trojan Horse" advances
Expensive health benefits for retired state and local government employees virtually will be locked in place by a bill on today's agenda of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees.
The measure is couched as a study bill, establishing "a taskforce on retiree health insurance protection," pre-loaded with three union-designated members. Significantly, however, the bill calls for a one-year moratorium that would bar public employers from imposing cost-saving changes in retiree health insurance unless also agreed to by current employees.
As pointed out by NY Public Payroll Watch (here and here), a similar one-year moratorium for retired teachers has been renewed annually by the Legislature.
Editorial writers have condemned the bill: Newsday (here), New York Post (here and here), Buffalo News (here) Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (here).
CSEA issued a press release supporting the bill and criticizing opposition from the New York Association of Counties and the Empire Center for New York State Policy, which it described as "a front for corporate fat cats".
An earlier version of the bill--without the moratorium--passed the Senate March 12. The amended bill is on third reading in the Senate, which means it could pass any time.
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