LANSING – House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) today unveiled a draft of the flagship bill in his plan that aims to save taxpayers nearly $1 billion, help solve the state's persistent structural deficits and preserve jobs for Michigan workers by overhauling public employee health care. The draft provides the clay that a new bipartisan committee can now shape into a reform plan that is right for Michigan. More bills will be released starting next week.
"I'm excited that the draft of this legislation is available so we can now begin the process of reforming public employee health care in Michigan to save taxpayers nearly $1 billion, keep teachers in the classroom and police and firefighters on the streets, and break the cycle of deficits that has blocked our state's economic recovery for far too long," Dillon said. "Making bold, structural changes is the only way we can move into the 21st Century and turn our state around."
The draft legislation, which the Legislative Service Bureau finished preparing today, is available at NewIdeasForMichigan.org, along with further details about Dillon's reform proposal.
Dillon recently announced a new bipartisan committee that will analyze his legislation, take testimony on it and make changes based on input and information that it receives.
State Representative Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) is Chair of the committee. State Representative Tim Melton (D-Pontiac) is Vice Chair. Other members are State Representatives Harold Haugh (D-Roseville), Bert Johnson (D-Detroit), Mike Lahti (D-Hancock), Dan Scripps (D-Leland), Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) and Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint). State Representative Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair Township) is Minority Vice Chair.
Representatives James Bolger (R-Marshall), Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck), Matt Lori (R-Constantine) and Bill Rogers (R-Brighton) complete the committee, which is expected to begin considering the legislation as early as next week.
"The work of this committee is critically important to crafting the best possible plan for Michigan – one that reforms public employee health care in a way that saves taxpayer money, maintains quality benefits for our workers, protects jobs and preserves collective bargaining," Dillon said. "I'm eager for affected individuals and groups to review the draft of the legislation so they can provide more detailed input and comments for the committee to consider."