The Senate leadership not only continues its relentless attackon current state employees’ benefits, but has expanded its effortto remove an earned fringe benefit promised to retired stateemployees.

Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 191 removes the 115 percentpremium cap for health insurance purchased by retired stateemployees. The average retirement income for state employees isabout $1,000 a month, and a significant portion of this is deductedfor health insurance. Removal of the 115 percent cap will permitunlimited premium increases and compel many retired workers toforfeit their health insurance since they will no longer be able toafford coverage.

The Senate plan also requires active state workers to opt forfully paid health insurance with an unreasonably high deductible of$1,000 or more a year, or, elect to contribute an amount estimatedat between $30 and $40 a month to the premium in return for a lowerdeductible, which has yet to be determined. However, regardless oftheir “choice,” the quality of their coverage will not improve andthey will be “out of pocket” the amount of their contribution orthe additional money expended to cover the increased deductibles.Either option constitutes a lose/lose decision for the stateemployee.

The Senate plan is punitive to both retired and working stateemployees and breaks faith with promises made to retirees andconditions of employment active state employees were promised whenthey were hired.

I urge the members of the House of Representatives to stick totheir guns; keep faith with retired and current state employees anddefeat Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 191. Further, I stronglysuggest active and retired state employees contact their electedlegislators and tell them such changes would not only befinancially devastating, but unacceptable.

Brenda R. Scott,

president, Mississippi Alliance of StateEmployees