SB287-09

SEANC: Ethics allegation troubling

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:39:12 -0400

SEANC wants a bill on the State Health Plan reconsidered.

In a letter to Speaker Joe Hackney, State Employees Association of N.C. head Dana Cope wrote that a recent ethics allegation raises questions about the way a recent House bill was handled.

In the letter, Cope alleges that an insurance company lobbied a state legislator to get the bill killed, and that the matter was referred to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Earlier this month, the Legislative Ethics Committee reported that a lawmaker said he was approached by a lobbyist with an offer to get a constituent's debt forgiven in exchange for killing a bill.

Though Cope names names, committee members did not identify either the legislator or the lobbyist, and neither they nor Attorney General Roy Cooper's office would confirm if the SBI was investigating.

Cope argued that the allegations over the House bill raise questions about fixes to the State Health Plan signed into law by Gov. Beverly Perdue, since the insurance company was consulted by legislators about the State Health Plan fix.

"It seems inconceivable to me that anyone would have faith in in the vote on that bill after recent events," Cope said in the letter.

He asked for Hackney to order the House to reconsider the State Health Plan bill.

What Perdue has signed so far

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:42:17 -0400

What has Gov. Beverly Perdue signed into law?

As of mid-week in crossover, the governor has signed 14 bills into law:

* S.B. 287: Reduces benefits to State Health Plan in effort to keep it solvent.

* S.B. 89: Designates Grandfather Mountain as a state park.

* H.B. 494: Allows Superior Court judges to perform weddings.

* H.B. 613: Says state does not approve of building a Navy landing field in a county that does not already have a military base.

* S.B. 198: Allows the governor to name another public school employee to the State Board of Education.

* S.B. 127: Restricts state management of institutional funds.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly included local bills and resolutions that do not require the governor's signature.

More after the jump.

SEANC ad targets Holliman

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:53:35 -0400

Another SEANC ad targets Rep. Hugh Holliman.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina is running a radio ad criticizing the Democratic Majority Leader for supporting a temporary fix to the State Health Plan.

"Hugh Holliman has his priorities wrong," the ad says. "He's part of the problem when he needs to be part of the solution. Maybe it's time for new leadership in the North Carolina legislature."

It also quotes the editorial board of the Greenville Daily Reflector, which said "lawmakers should be ashamed" and called the health plan bill "unconscionable."

Another SEANC ad criticizes Rep. Margaret Dickson for supporting the bill.

After the jump, the script.

SEANC ad targets Dickson

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:45:40 -0400

SEANC is targeting state Rep. Margaret Dickson.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina will run a radio ad in the Fayetteville Democrat's district, criticizing her for a bill that would allow furloughs of state workers.

Dickson is one of three primary co-sponsors of House Bill 708, which would allow the governor to order mandatory furloughs to keep the budget balanced.

The ad argues that Dickson "wants to force state workers like probation officers" to take unpaid leave, then notes the problems with the state's probation system.

"The fact is our state's probation officers are underpaid and overworked, with caseloads that are out of control," it says. "Forcing them to take time off will just make matters worse."

The ad also criticizes Dickson for voting for the short-term fix to the State Health Plan.

Script after the jump.

Perdue signs Health plan bill

bniolet — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:04:59 -0400

Gov. Beverly Perdue signed the Health Plan patch adopted Wednesday by the legislature.

The law puts a $250 million bandage on the plan, which covers 667,000 teachers, state employees and retirees. The law also makes other changes to the plan, including benefit reductions and premium increases designed to keep it solvent for the next two years. The fix doesn't address other long-term problems with the plan.

"By no means is this legislation ideal, however it is a necessary short-term step that will make sure North Carolina’s state employees, retirees and teachers continue receiving the health care they need," Perdue said in a statement. "This cannot be permanent policy. The General Assembly must continue working on a long-term solution."

SEANC not surprised nor happy

bniolet — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:17:17 -0400

The State Employees Association of North Carolina has been unhappy all along with the Health Plan bill.

"We're disappointed in the entire process," said Ardis Watkins, a lobbyist for the assocaition, which has 55,000 members. "The devastating effect this bill will have on the working families of this state were not considered."

Senate passes Health Plan fix

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:14:37 -0400

The Senate approved the State Health Plan bill.

Senators voted 29 to 18 in favor of the bill, though many supporters took the opportunity during debate to say that it is a stopgap measure.

"I think we all realize that we are putting a Band-Aid on a huge cancer," said Sen. Jerry Tillman, a Randolph County Republican. "What we are doing is temporary at best."

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand said he hopes that a blue-ribbon panel and monthly reports on the health plan will help move the plan toward a long-term fix.

Some Republicans questioned aspects of the plan that would penalize state workers for being overweight or smoking. In particular, they asked about the proper way of measuring obesity and how a family plan might be affected by a single smoker.

Shortly before the Senate began debate, the House approved the conference report on the bill, 60-56. It now heads to Gov. Beverly Perdue to be signed into law.

Health plan fix passes House

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:23:26 -0400

The state House today passed a major fix to the State Health Plan that will cost taxpayers roughly $710 million, reduce benefits for state employees and teachers, and protect North Carolina pharmacists from increased competition in filling prescriptions.

The legislation also benefits North Carolina chiropractors and physical, occupational and speech therapists by keeping co-payments at the same amount for visits to family doctors, Dan Kane reports.

A similar provision inserted into the 2005 state budget by former House Speaker Jim Black helped land him in prison when three chiropractors admitted giving him cash as he helped them with their legislative agenda.

The plan serves 676,000 state workers, teachers and retirees. A combination of rising health care costs and inaccurate financial projections put the plan in danger of running out of money. The legislation would immediately draw $250 million from the state's rainy day fund to keep the plan from becoming insolvent this month.

More after the jump.

Health Plan narrowly passes key vote

bniolet — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:23:43 -0400

The State Health Plan bill squeaked through the House appropriation's committee on Wednesday.

The narrow margin 44 to 40 suggested to House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman that he may have some more work to do before he puts the bill up to a vote on the House floor next week.

"I think there's a lot of concern about state employees," said Holliman, a Lexington Democrat. "We're working to make this bill as good as we can."

The plan is facing a shortfall this year of $250 million and in addition to setting premiums and establishing coverage for state employees and their dependents, the bill would keep the plan solvent this year.

For next year, the bill would increase premiums for spouses and children of state employees by 10 percent each year. That increase grew after lawmakers added some $54 million in costs over two years to move the plan to a calendar year and voted to cover chiropractic services and physical, occupation and speech therapy at the same level as primary care.

More after the jump.

Health plan fix back tomorrow?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:46:45 -0400

Legislation to bail out the State Health Plan is expected to be back before House members Thursday, and several proposed amendments will be taken up that could further delay its passage.

House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said one amendment would switch the plan from a fiscal year — July 1 to June 30 — to a calendar year so that members can better take advantage of health savings accounts and other cost-saving initiatives, Dan Kane reports.

Another would allow drugs that help the mentally ill to be treated the same as most drugs, instead of being labeled specialty drugs that would cost members more.

A third amendment would restore a benefit that allows members to pay the same co-payment to see a chiropractor as the family doctor. This is the same benefit that former House Speaker Jim Black inserted into the state budget four years ago and helped land him in prison when three chiropractors admitted to giving him cash payments while pushing their legislative agenda. It was later rescinded.

Holliman didn't criticize the proposals, but he said they all come with a cost.

"We're asking the sponsors where the money will come from," Holliman said.

More after the jump.