Mich. lawmakers still get health care perk.... pork

Mich. lawmakers still get health care perk
"Michigan lawmakers seem likely to finish the year without halting or scaling back a perk that's the envy of most workers - full health care coverage in retirement after six years of service."
Under current law, former lawmakers can tap into the health insurance once they turn 55.

The House and Senate overwhelmingly voted last December to make lawmakers work longer before having most of their health care premiums picked up by taxpayers. Neither chamber passed the same version, however, so the old system remains in place.

While the bill wouldn't affect current legislators, future lawmakers would have to work 14 years - six in the House and eight in the Senate, the most allowed under term limits - to get 90 percent of their premium paid by the state, the same percentage legislators now get after six years.

Unless new legislators work other state government jobs, they could have no more than 42 percent of their premium covered - 3 percent for each year if they serve the maximum 14 years.