FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Senate will terminate retirement health care plan
(STATEHOUSE) – Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne) announced today that the Republican caucus has reached a decision to terminate the Senate Retirement Health Care Plan.
“On Tuesday, Nov. 21, immediately after my selection as President Pro-Tem of the Senate is made official, I will execute an order that immediately implements this termination plan,” Sen. Long said this afternoon during a press conference at the Statehouse.
Sen. Long explained to reporters that what was originally intended in the health care plan blossomed into something “too generous” and needed to be addressed quickly. “We don't feel like a plan such as this should be different than that any other state employee receives or has access to,” Long said.
The effective date for termination of the plan will be July 31, 2007 , according to Sen. Long, “approximately eight months from today.” Long stressed that the Senate transition regarding the retirement health care plan will be shorter than similar action taken by the Indiana House of Representatives, which had a 10-month window for change.
“This will allow Senators and staff eligible to retire to have the time to make that decision,” Sen. Long said.
Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville) said that last year only five senators were on the current plan and just a few more were added this year. He estimated the total number of senators on the plan to be “ten or less.” In answer to reporters' questions, Kenley said that those senators would remain on the plan at the advice of legal counsel.
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