LANSING – More than a dozen statewide education groups held a news conference today to show their support for a
reform proposal by House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford
Twp.) to overhaul the state's health care system for public employees, a change that will keep more money in the
classroom by saving an estimated
$900 million a year.
"These professionals work day in and day out to educate our young people and help prepare them for 21st century jobs – they understand why it is so urgent that Michigan changes the way it operates if we want to turn our state around," Dillon said. "By ensuring that every public employee, from the janitor to the Governor, can choose from the same health care plans, we can save the state nearly $1 billion a year – money that can be used to educate our kids, keep police and firefighters on the street and create jobs."
Dillon's proposal centers on consolidating the hundreds of different plans that serve Michigan's more than 400,000 public sector employees, including those who work at schools. The consolidation will allow for huge administrative savings, competitive pricing to drive down costs and standardized benefits that are more closely aligned with those in the private sector and comparable states' public sectors. The plan also will preserve collective bargaining.
Education groups endorsing Dillon's plan today included:
- Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA)
- Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB)
- Michigan School Business Officials (MSBO)
- Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA)
- Tri-County Alliance (TCA)
- Middle Cities Education Association (MCEA)
- Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD)
- Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP)
- Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA)
- Michigan Small and Rural Schools Association (MSRSA)
- Michigan African American School Administrators (MAASA)
- Michigan Negotiators Association (MNA)
For details on Dillon's health care reform proposal, visit www.newideasformichigan.org.