Rep. wants mandatory health co-pays for lawmakers - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Rep. wants mandatory health co-pays for lawmakers

Dee DeQuattro

ddequattro@abc6.com

House Minority Leader Brian C. Newberry has introduced legislation that would mandate legislators pay 20 percent of the state health insurance. Currently lawmakers can choose whether or not to contribute to the cost of their health insurance benefits.

"I believe we should hold ourselves to the same standards that we ask of state employees," said Newberry. "Currently part-time employees have a 20 percent co-share if they earn less than $90,000 annually and a 35 percent co-share if they work part-time and earn more than $90,000 annually. We are a part-time legislature. Why shouldn't we pay the same amount that we ask other employees to pay?"

The bill also prohibits legislators from receiving any payments for waiving state health insurance benefits.

The Co-Sponsors include Rep. Doreen Costa (R-District 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), Rep. Anthony Giarrusso (R-District 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-District 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry), and Rep. Patricia Morgan (R-District 26, Coventry, Warwick, West Warwick).