Unions formally rebuff Governor's request for health benefit changes

Illustrating once again the need for the Legislature to have the authority to make budget decisions concerning state employee compensation, state employee unions have rejected the Governor's request to make changes to the portion taxpayers pay for their health care. On Wednesday the Governor's budget director Marty Brown sent a letter to state unions informing them that the Governor was re-opening the 2011-13 health care benefits agreement "in order to negotiate a reduction in the employer premium contribution." Here is a copy of the OFM letter . . . READ MORE