Governor Patrick Proposes Health Insurance Increase for State Workers!

Action Needed Now on Health Insurance Increase!

Governor Patrick Submits FY 2009 Budget Proposal.
ACTION NEEDED NOW ON HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE!
On Wednesday, January 23, Governor Patrick submitted his FY 2009 budget proposal to the House of Representatives.

As reported, the Governor’s budget includes a plan to raise $51 million in revenue by taking it out of state workers paychecks. Patrick’s proposal calls for a sliding premium scale based on salary level. According to the proposal, employees who earn less than $35,000 annually would remain at 15 percent, employees earning between $35,000 and $50,000 would pay 20 percent, and employees earning over $50,000 would pay 25 percent. In reality this proposal represents a 33 percent increase for those who would pay the 20 percent premium, and a 66 percent increase for those who would pay the 25 percent premium.

Now that the budget has been filed in the legislature, it is critical that every member of SEIU 888 contact their state representative and state senator to express opposition to the Governors plan. It is unfair to place the tax burden on state workers. The legislature needs to understand that balancing the state budget on the backs of hard working state employees is the wrong way to go.

We need to send a strong message to the legislature that the working men and women of SEIU 888 reject Governor Patrick’s proposal. 

Please click here to send an email to your state representative and state senator today.

When running for Governor in 2006, then candidate Patrick said he believed that the current employee contribution is both defensible and sustainable.Click here to read Governor Patrick’s SEIU 888 candidate survey. 

Please click here to send an email to the Governor reminding him of his position during the campaign.